Taipei: More than 1,500 complaints about sexual harassment in the workplace were reported in 2024, following the implementation of laws holding employers accountable for gender-related misconduct, the Ministry of Labor (MOL) announced Thursday. These legal amendments came into force in March of the previous year.
According to Focus Taiwan, the ministry documented a total of 1,577 workplace sexual harassment complaints from March to December last year. This followed the requirement for employers to notify local authorities upon receiving such complaints from employees, which began on March 8, 2024, as part of the Gender Equality in Employment Act.
The amendments, aimed at establishing employer accountability for maintaining a safe workplace, also set rules for handling sexual harassment complaints. Additionally, the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act and the Gender Equality in Education Act were revised to address harassment beyond the workplace, including in educational institutions and the public sector.
Of the 1,577 complaints recorded, 354 involved government agencies, and 1,397 were filed by women, as reported by the ministry. Wang Chin-jung, deputy head of the Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment, revealed at a news conference that 127 individuals were dismissed after their complaints were confirmed as true and severe.
The complaints primarily concerned verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that created a hostile environment, totaling 1,172 cases. There were 325 complaints related to abuse of power, and 12 concerning demands for sexual favors, with some cases involving multiple forms of harassment.
The manufacturing industry accounted for 21 percent of the complaints, followed by the public sector at 13.8 percent, and the medical, healthcare, and social welfare segments at 12 percent. Investigations verified 60.2 percent of the complaints as legitimate, with 25.1 percent insufficiently substantiated for action, and the remainder still under review.
Wang emphasized the legal obligation of employers to address sexual harassment once aware, including facilitating access to counseling or medical services for affected employees. Additionally, private sector organizations are encouraged to apply for subsidies to host workplace sexual harassment prevention events until April 30.