Union Protests Overtime Pay Backlog at Taipei and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospitals, Puts Forward Three Demands
Labor unions from Taipei Veterans General Hospital (Taipei VGH) and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital (Kaohsiung VGH) protested in the rain on June 12, accusing the hospitals of imposing excessive restrictions on the process for retroactively paying overtime from 2020 to 2024, effectively harassing employees. The unions demanded immediate negotiations, an extension of the application period, and a comprehensive investigation into unpaid overtime across the medical industry.
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- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 15:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 12, 2026 at 15:19 (19 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 12, 2026 at 15:32 (12 min after Collected)
Labor unions from Taipei Veterans General Hospital (Taipei VGH) and Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital (Kaohsiung VGH) protested in the rain at the main gate of Taipei VGH on June 12. They accused the hospitals of imposing numerous restrictions on the "5-year overtime pay retroactive payment process," effectively harassing employees. The unions put forward three major demands: immediately initiating negotiations, extending the application period, and conducting a comprehensive investigation into unpaid overtime across the medical industry.
Taipei VGH issued a statement on June 11, emphasizing that there was no delay or harassment, and that all procedures were being carried out in accordance with the law. However, because the process involves thousands of employees, it requires time to process. The hospital stated that paying overtime without evidence of actual overtime work would be unfair to other colleagues and that the related work would continue.
The dispute stems from the Veterans Affairs Council (VAC) system's recent initiation of a process to retroactively pay overtime for the years 2020 to 2024. The unions argue that the current system only allows for the retroactive payment of a portion of overtime hours and that the review standards are inconsistent. Many employees have been asked to provide proof of work from years ago, and some cases have even been rejected or dismissed.
Furthermore, the unions accused the hospitals of failing to engage in substantive negotiations over the related disputes, leading to the protest. Representatives from the unions of National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, and Cheng Hsin General Hospital were also present to show support.
Huang Gan-di, Chairman of the Taipei VGH Union, stated that there has been a long-standing problem of unpaid overtime and incomplete overtime pay at Taipei VGH, creating a sweatshop-like environment. He argued that a world-class hospital should not only pursue medical quality but also value employee labor rights. The union does not seek confrontation with the hospital administration but hopes to amplify the voices of frontline workers.
Yang Yu-han, an employee representative from Kaohsiung VGH, said that during the hospital's special overtime pay application process, many nurses reported having their applications rejected or being asked for additional evidence, and even facing pressure. She emphasized that the purpose of the retroactive payment is to reasonably review the labor contributions employees have made in the past and hoped that the hospitals and authorities would protect labor rights in a more transparent and friendly manner.
The three demands put forward by the unions are: First, calling on Taipei VGH and Kaohsiung VGH to take the unions' and frontline workers' demands seriously, immediately start substantive negotiations, extend the application period, and fully settle all unpaid overtime wages under the Labor Standards Act and for public servants. Second, the VAC should correct the deficiencies in the current retroactive payment system and re-announce it, and the affiliated veterans hospitals should allow employees to independently query their five-year electronic signature records, and stop repeatedly and arbitrarily rejecting grassroots applications. Third, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Labor should intervene to investigate the extent of unpaid overtime in medical institutions and implement labor inspections and working hour management systems.
Taipei VGH issued a statement on June 11, emphasizing that there was no delay or harassment, and that all procedures were being carried out in accordance with the law. However, because the process involves thousands of employees, it requires time to process. The hospital stated that paying overtime without evidence of actual overtime work would be unfair to other colleagues and that the related work would continue.
The dispute stems from the Veterans Affairs Council (VAC) system's recent initiation of a process to retroactively pay overtime for the years 2020 to 2024. The unions argue that the current system only allows for the retroactive payment of a portion of overtime hours and that the review standards are inconsistent. Many employees have been asked to provide proof of work from years ago, and some cases have even been rejected or dismissed.
Furthermore, the unions accused the hospitals of failing to engage in substantive negotiations over the related disputes, leading to the protest. Representatives from the unions of National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University Cancer Center, and Cheng Hsin General Hospital were also present to show support.
Huang Gan-di, Chairman of the Taipei VGH Union, stated that there has been a long-standing problem of unpaid overtime and incomplete overtime pay at Taipei VGH, creating a sweatshop-like environment. He argued that a world-class hospital should not only pursue medical quality but also value employee labor rights. The union does not seek confrontation with the hospital administration but hopes to amplify the voices of frontline workers.
Yang Yu-han, an employee representative from Kaohsiung VGH, said that during the hospital's special overtime pay application process, many nurses reported having their applications rejected or being asked for additional evidence, and even facing pressure. She emphasized that the purpose of the retroactive payment is to reasonably review the labor contributions employees have made in the past and hoped that the hospitals and authorities would protect labor rights in a more transparent and friendly manner.
The three demands put forward by the unions are: First, calling on Taipei VGH and Kaohsiung VGH to take the unions' and frontline workers' demands seriously, immediately start substantive negotiations, extend the application period, and fully settle all unpaid overtime wages under the Labor Standards Act and for public servants. Second, the VAC should correct the deficiencies in the current retroactive payment system and re-announce it, and the affiliated veterans hospitals should allow employees to independently query their five-year electronic signature records, and stop repeatedly and arbitrarily rejecting grassroots applications. Third, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Labor should intervene to investigate the extent of unpaid overtime in medical institutions and implement labor inspections and working hour management systems.