Government mulls mental health leave for public servants

Government mulls mental health leave for public servants

2024-11-29

The issue of mental health has become a hotly debated topic in Taiwan, after the suicide of a labor ministry worker that was reportedly caused by workplace bullying. Earlier this year, the government rolled out mental health leave at school campuses, and it’s hoping to expand the plan to civil servants in the future. But many unresolved issues remain, such as whether the leave will be paid or not.

Lai Ching-te
President
The government must take the lead to bring change to workplaces, campuses and every corner of society. We will do our utmost to work with the private sector so that no one falls through the cracks.

At a meeting of the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee, President Lai Ching-te stressed that the government needed to take care of the people’s physical and mental wellbeing. The comments come after a suicide suspected to be caused by workplace bullying at the Ministry of Labor. Lai said the government will take the lead in discussions on instituting mental health leave for public servants.

Lin Ching-yi
Ministry of Health and Welfare
The instructions given to us by the Executive Yuan will be discussed by the head of the Directorate General of Personnel Administration and we will provide the relevant support so that public servants can take care of their health with mental health leave.

How public servants will apply for mental health leave and whether it will be paid leave or not needs further discussion. What do workers think?

Member of the public
If public servants get to have it, then for the sake of fairness, private companies should also offer it.

Member of the public
It all depends on the boss. But if it is really good for your health, then we should get it too.

Member of the public
Hospitals are probably in great need of this. You can’t see it, but the pressure is enormous.

In Taiwan, mental health leave is already in place for students. Last February, a total of 127 colleges and universities began permitting up to three days of mental health leave each semester. Each time students apply, it can be for half or a full days leave. Senior high schools and vocational high schools followed suit in August. In addition, the government is expanding its free counseling services.

Lai Ching-te
President
This year we expanded our mental health support program, which originally covered people aged 15 to 30. Now it will also cover people aged 15 to 45 years old, to provide more support to that demographic.

The program offers three free consultations per year. In the first three months since the program began, a total of 21,000 people have used its services 48,000 times.

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總統:不漏接任何一個人研議公務人員"身心調適假

2024-11-29

總統府召開健康台灣委員會，總統賴清德強調，要強化國人心理健康，從政府帶頭做。勞動部霸凌爭議後，行政院討論，要新增公務人員"身心調適假"，但是否給薪、怎麼請，還有待討論。至於一般勞工呢?上班族大多認為，讓心理休息一下，對工作也有幫助，但還是要看老闆同不同意。

[[總統賴清德]]
“從職場到校園，乃至社會的每個角落，我們政府要帶頭做起，公司部門要協力一起做，盡全力不漏接任何一個人”

總統賴清德在健康台灣推動委員會上，強調要照顧國人身心健康，尤其先前發生勞動部霸凌事件，打算由政府帶頭，研議增加公務人員"身心調適假。

[[衛福部次長林靜儀]]
“行政院這邊給我們的指示，就是說要來研議，由人事長這邊，我們來相關配合，增列公務人員身心調適假，來讓我們的公務人員，能夠有健康的身心狀態”

公務人員身心調適假怎麼請、有沒有給薪，還有待討論，那一般勞工怎麼看?

[[民眾]]
“如果公務人員有的話，這樣子公平起見，應該私人企業應該也要有”

[[民眾]]
“這要看老闆吧，如果說真的是對身體健康，有好處的話，這個應該是要有的啦”

[[民眾]]
“醫院那個可能也是蠻需要。看不到的壓力，其實蠻大的”

而國內目前是先從學生，開始推"身心調適假"，共127所大專院校，從2月開始推行，每學期有3天，每次請假以半天或一天為單位，高中職8月上路。另外，政府也同步擴大免費心理諮商服務。

[[總統賴清德]]
“今年我們推動了心理健康支持方案，將適用年齡從15到30歲，擴大到15到45歲，給青壯世代更多的支持”

一年有3次免費諮商，實施三個月以來，共服務2.1萬人、4.8萬人次，要讓國人獲得更多的心理支持。

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Countries around the world are bracing for economic upheaval as incoming US President Donald Trump threatens massive tariffs, especially on China. The uncertainty has left governments and businesses struggling with how to respond. VOA’s Bill Gallo reports from Seoul.

During his first term, Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on China, shaking the global economy. Ahead of his return, Trump is vowing even more drastic measures – 10% tariffs on all imports to the US and a staggering 60% on goods from China. While China hasn’t commented directly on Trump’s threats, it has warned against further trade tensions.

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We should be able to weather this. I actually see these problems as benefits for Thailand. I believe that we can be an investment destination for every country.

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Jayant Menon
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He’s already called them silly in a podcast with Joe Rogan. So he’s probably going to roll them back. And that’s a positive in terms of the distortions that affect the global economy.

Both risks and opportunities as the world figures out how to respond to the return of an unpredictable U.S. president.

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For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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TSMC founder’s memoir shoots to No. 1 in a day

TSMC founder Morris Chang on Friday released the second installment of his autobiography, after a 26-year writing break. By the end of the day it had become an instant bestseller. Flocks of Taiwanese raced to bookstores to get their hands on the memoir, and so did some American readers, who planned to take it back home.

The second installment of TSMC founder Morris Chang’s autobiography hit bookstores on Friday. Many people rushed to buy it on the first day of its release, hoping to understand the story of the company, known locally as the holy mountain that protects the nation.

Member of the public
I want to learn about the second half of his career, because I’m in the semiconductor industry myself, and I want to learn from his experience.

Member of the public
I’m quite interested in TSMC’s stocks.

The book also includes rare photos, including Chang’s youthful visage aged 18 and his wedding to Sophie Chang in 2001. There’s also a photo of the couple with outgoing US President Joe Biden taken in 2022. Fans had waited 26 years for the second installment, which takes some two hours to read.

Member of the public
I quite admire Morris Chang, so I’m glad I was able to get a copy on the first day.

Member of the public
My husband asked me to buy a copy for him and take it back to the US for him.

Chang founded TSMC in 1985 and in 1994 took it public, with each share costing NT$90. Today the stock price has increased over 10 times. From mobile phones and cars to the AI of today, the entire globe needs TSMC’s chips.

Morris Chang (June 6, 2018)
Then TSMC’s CEO
This has been the most exciting and enjoyable 30 years of my life, being able to work with everyone to achieve such a great undertaking.

Sophie Chang (Nov. 19)
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It’s such a thick book but every single word he wrote himself.

As soon as Chang’s memoir was published, it topped Taiwan’s list of bestsellers. The story behind Taiwan’s high priest of semiconductors is profound and moving to read.

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Overcoming cultural differences between Taiwan and Japan

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Chen Wu-fu
Japan Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry honorary chair
Of every 10 students that go to study in Japan, only one stays in the country. That’s because they can’t adapt to the lifestyle.

Having worked in Japan for 30 years, Chen Wu-fu recounts the hardships of trying to make a living in a foreign land. He shared his experiences on a FTV program, going into the differences of living in Taiwan and Japan. Next to him, Riria Infinity from Japan nods in agreement.

Riria Infinity
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In the workplace, Japanese employees have to be very careful about hierarchy. Maybe that’s reflected in having to come to work early. Work hours are for work, so you might have to come in half an hour or even one hour early to prepare for the work day.

Japan’s work culture is very different from Taiwan’s. Chen says that it took him many years of daily grind in order to become established in Japanese business circles. As the former chair of the Japan Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he brought together the power of Taiwanese business people in Tokyo to hold the Tokyo Tower Taiwan Festival. The event aims to help overseas Taiwanese cope with homesickness while promoting Taiwan abroad. He’s also helped Taiwanese fruits, such as pineapples, bananas and sugar apples make their way to Japanese supermarkets, resulting in an additional 10,000 tons of pineapple sales ever year.

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Riria Infinity
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Since Taiwan helped Japan so much in the past, my friends and relatives in Tokyo are willing to buy pricier produce from Taiwan. Once you eat Taiwanese pineapple, you’ll never forget it.

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The International Exhibition for Young Inventors was established in 2003 to showcase inventions by children 6 to 19 years old. The Taiwanese team was among the 234 exhibitors from 21 countries around the world. Their inventions received 13 gold medals, 16 silver medals, 20 bronze medals and 20 special awards.

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For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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