The Labor Ministry in Taiwan has reported that 43 employment discrimination cases were identified in 2023, resulting in fines of NT$9.2 million (about US$282,000). The majority of these cases involved gender discrimination, highlighting ongoing challenges in workplace equality.
According to the Employment Service Act, employers are prohibited from discriminating against job seekers or employees based on factors such as race, gender, age, marital status, or appearance. The Gender Equality in Employment Act and the Middle-aged and Elderly Employment Promotion Act further reinforce these protections, specifically addressing gender and age discrimination.
Of the 43 cases, 32 were related to gender discrimination accounting for NT$6.25 million in fines. The Head of the Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment Huang Wei-chen (黃維琛) emphasized that innocuous phrases like “females preferred” or “only under 65 years old” in job advertisements constitute discrimination. Age discrimination cases were also noted, with fines ranging from NT$100,000 to NT$300,000 (about US$3,067 to US$9,200) depending on the severity of the discrimination and the employer's awareness of the law.
The ministry encourages job seekers and employees who encounter discrimination to file complaints with local authorities. These complaints are then reviewed by an employment discrimination evaluation committee. If discrimination is confirmed, employers can be fined up to NT$300,000 up to $1.5 million (about US$46,000), with their names publicly disclosed.