Minister of Labor Hsu Shen-han Leads Delegation to Geneva for Ministry's First ILC Side Event

(CNA, Taipei, June 12, by reporter Wu Hsin-yun) As the International Labour Conference (ILC) convenes in Geneva, Minister of Labor Hsu Shen-han has led a delegation to attend a conference co-hosted with the Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions. This is the Ministry of Labor's first time organizing a side event during the ILC, creating a milestone for the ministry's substantive participation in the affairs of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Taiwan is not a member state of the ILO and thus cannot attend the ILC as an official representative. However, it has long supported the Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions, a member of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), to represent Taiwan and attend the ILC as a workers' member.

In a press release today, the Ministry of Labor stated that this year, the ministry and the confederation co-organized the "International Conference on Decent Work" during the ILC, demonstrating the government's determination and actions to expand participation in international labor affairs. Hsu also led a delegation to Geneva, attending the event on the 11th local time and meeting with labor department heads from allied nations, forging a new path for international engagement.

According to information, this is the first time the Ministry of Labor has organized a side event during the ILC. It invited about 40 participants, including the former deputy director of the ILO's Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV), the former deputy general secretary of the ITUC, representatives from general confederations of trade unions in countries like the Philippines and Singapore, and government representatives from nations such as Eswatini, Haiti, and Belize, marking a milestone for the ministry's substantive participation in ILO affairs.

The ministry stated that the conference began with opening remarks from Minister Hsu. Hsu said that as Taiwan becomes an increasingly important part of the international supply chain, aligning its labor laws and systems with international standards is a crucial issue. He added that Taiwan cherishes every opportunity to participate in international social policy discussions and hopes this conference will serve as a platform for labor, management, and government to engage in dialogue and jointly devise solutions, by sharing key initiatives and listening to the perspectives of unions from various countries.

The ministry also noted that the conference included exchanges on "The Platform Economy: Innovation in Employment and Decent Work" and "Responding to Artificial Intelligence: The Future and Challenges of Labor Policy," explaining Taiwan's approach to legislative protection for platform workers and outlining labor issues and policies related to AI in Taiwan.

The ministry added that Minister Hsu also held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Labour and Social Security of the allied nation of Eswatini, Phila Buthelezi, and the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare of Guatemala. Hsu thanked Eswatini for its long-term support of Taiwan's international participation and for speaking up for Taiwan, expressing hope for further exchanges on vocational training and human skills enhancement in the future. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1150612