Teachers Celebrate Labor Day for the First Time; Education Groups Demand Full Allocation, Legalizing Treatment

Taipei, May 1 (CNA) Taiwanese teachers today celebrated Labor Day with the entire nation for the first time. The National Federation of Teachers' Unions (NFTU) called on teachers to participate in the May Day parade, advocating for full allocation to public and private education retirement funds and the return of seniority compensation. The National Federation of Educational Industry Unions (NFEIU) also put forward demands such as legalizing salary and treatment for teachers and abolishing the school disciplinary committee system.

Previously, teachers, civil servants, and similar groups were not granted leave on Labor Day, prompting years of protests from public and private education groups who argued that they were being treated differently despite being laborers. On May 9, 2025, the Legislative Yuan passed an amendment to the "Memorial Days and Festivals Implementation Act," changing Labor Day to a national holiday. This May 1 marks the first Labor Day holiday for Taiwanese teachers.

The National Federation of Teachers' Unions (NFTU) today called on teachers to join the 2026 Labor Day parade, planning to join the first contingent. Teachers will wear commemorative T-shirts or dark tops, standing with all employed workers to make history.

The NFTU's demands for the parade include full allocation to retirement and survivor benefits funds, the return of seniority compensation, and a consistent 15% contribution rate for both public and private school retirement funds. All these issues are related to the long-standing concerns of the teacher community regarding the retirement system, with hopes that political parties across the aisle will address the labor rights of educators.

The National Federation of Educational Industry Unions (NFEIU) also issued a press release today, stating that the national holiday on May Day Labor Day demonstrates progress in labor equality. However, they pointed out severe problems with campus litigation in recent years, leading to grassroots overwork, high pressure, and high complaint risks, suggesting that the school disciplinary committee system should be reconsidered for abolition.

Additionally, the NFEIU advocates for legalizing teachers' salary and treatment, striving to institutionalize a mechanism for salary adjustments and ensure regular revisions. They also call for a review of additional pay for homeroom teachers and special education teachers, to provide reasonable treatment and a complete system. (Editor: Lung Po-an) 1150301

Choose to stand with facts. Your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.

Download CNA's "Firsthand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.

The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.