Ministry of Labor partners with 6 major associations to improve 3K industry working environments and assist in transformation
Taiwan's Ministry of Labor has launched a cooperation plan with six major industry associations, including the plastics product manufacturing industry, to improve working conditions in '3K' (hazardous, dirty, tough) industries. The initiative aims to support industrial transformation and reduce occupational hazards, with relaxed subsidy conditions for SMEs to encourage gradual improvements.
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- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 19:40
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wang Shu-fen, Taipei, 4th) To improve working environments in specific manufacturing '3K' industries (hazardous, dirty, tough), the Ministry of Labor today partnered with six major industry associations, including plastics product manufacturing, to launch a cooperation plan aimed at assisting industrial transformation.
The Ministry of Labor held the 'Partnership Launch for Improving Working Environments in Specific Process Industries' event at the NTU Hospital International Convention Center. Under the witness of Minister of Labor Hung Shen-han, Lin Yu-tang, Director-General of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with the chairmen of six major industry associations—casting products, surface treatment, rubber and elastomers, plastics products, fluid power transmission, and adhesive tape—jointly launched the cooperation plan. The Ministry of Economic Affairs' Industrial Development Bureau and the National Federation of Industries of the Republic of China were also invited to participate, promoting industrial upgrading and transformation.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration stated that the 'Specific Process Industry Working Environment Improvement Subsidy Program' is now open for applications. This year, the subsidy conditions have been relaxed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), allowing them to improve working environments without needing a large one-time investment. They can start with the most urgent, hazardous, and health and safety affecting issues, achieving gradual improvements through phased, affordable, and visible results.
Hung Shen-han said that traditional 3K industries face challenges such as international competition, supply chain restructuring, labor shortages, and an aging workforce. Many enterprises must not only compete for orders and manage costs but also contend with high-risk working environments and occupational hazards like high temperatures, dust, noise, chemicals, heavy lifting, and aging equipment, facing the challenges of sustainable upgrading and occupational accident reduction.
Hung Shen-han stated that after taking office, he set two major goals: first, to significantly reduce occupational accidents and protect worker safety; second, to help enterprises fill labor gaps and promote and stabilize national employment.
ENSIONS Hung Shen-han believes that strengthening safety and health solely through labor inspections is insufficient. Instead, guidance, technology, and subsidy resources should be provided upfront to assist industries in upgrading and transforming. Industry associations best understand industry trends and are most familiar with their member factories. Through the assistance of these associations, an industry network can be established, allowing the Ministry of Labor to more precisely grasp industry needs and direct government resources to where they are truly needed.
He added that the improvement experience of one factory can be shared as a reference for peers, achieving the effect of 'large factories guiding small factories, demonstrations spreading, and guidance building capabilities.' This will help enterprises identify risks, improve workplaces, and establish autonomous safety and health management capabilities.
Hung Shen-han appealed that as long as enterprises are willing to improve their working environments, the Ministry of Labor will fully assist and support them to enhance the sustainable competitiveness of traditional industries, strengthen workplace accident reduction, and attract younger generations to traditional industries, achieving multifaceted positive benefits.
The event also invited three demonstration enterprises to share their approaches and successful experiences in improving working environments, including enhancing local exhaust ventilation system efficiency through professional design and reducing worker exposure to harmful substances using encapsulated feeding systems. Overall improvements were made to floor renovations and lighting equipment was installed, transforming traditional factories from old, dirty, and dimly lit stereotypes into safe and comfortable working spaces. (Edited by Wu Su-rou) 1150504
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(Central News Agency reporter Wang Shu-fen, Taipei, 4th) To improve working environments in specific manufacturing '3K' industries (hazardous, dirty, tough), the Ministry of Labor today partnered with six major industry associations, including plastics product manufacturing, to launch a cooperation plan aimed at assisting industrial transformation.
The Ministry of Labor held the 'Partnership Launch for Improving Working Environments in Specific Process Industries' event at the NTU Hospital International Convention Center. Under the witness of Minister of Labor Hung Shen-han, Lin Yu-tang, Director-General of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with the chairmen of six major industry associations—casting products, surface treatment, rubber and elastomers, plastics products, fluid power transmission, and adhesive tape—jointly launched the cooperation plan. The Ministry of Economic Affairs' Industrial Development Bureau and the National Federation of Industries of the Republic of China were also invited to participate, promoting industrial upgrading and transformation.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration stated that the 'Specific Process Industry Working Environment Improvement Subsidy Program' is now open for applications. This year, the subsidy conditions have been relaxed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), allowing them to improve working environments without needing a large one-time investment. They can start with the most urgent, hazardous, and health and safety affecting issues, achieving gradual improvements through phased, affordable, and visible results.
Hung Shen-han said that traditional 3K industries face challenges such as international competition, supply chain restructuring, labor shortages, and an aging workforce. Many enterprises must not only compete for orders and manage costs but also contend with high-risk working environments and occupational hazards like high temperatures, dust, noise, chemicals, heavy lifting, and aging equipment, facing the challenges of sustainable upgrading and occupational accident reduction.
Hung Shen-han stated that after taking office, he set two major goals: first, to significantly reduce occupational accidents and protect worker safety; second, to help enterprises fill labor gaps and promote and stabilize national employment.
ENSIONS Hung Shen-han believes that strengthening safety and health solely through labor inspections is insufficient. Instead, guidance, technology, and subsidy resources should be provided upfront to assist industries in upgrading and transforming. Industry associations best understand industry trends and are most familiar with their member factories. Through the assistance of these associations, an industry network can be established, allowing the Ministry of Labor to more precisely grasp industry needs and direct government resources to where they are truly needed.
He added that the improvement experience of one factory can be shared as a reference for peers, achieving the effect of 'large factories guiding small factories, demonstrations spreading, and guidance building capabilities.' This will help enterprises identify risks, improve workplaces, and establish autonomous safety and health management capabilities.
Hung Shen-han appealed that as long as enterprises are willing to improve their working environments, the Ministry of Labor will fully assist and support them to enhance the sustainable competitiveness of traditional industries, strengthen workplace accident reduction, and attract younger generations to traditional industries, achieving multifaceted positive benefits.
The event also invited three demonstration enterprises to share their approaches and successful experiences in improving working environments, including enhancing local exhaust ventilation system efficiency through professional design and reducing worker exposure to harmful substances using encapsulated feeding systems. Overall improvements were made to floor renovations and lighting equipment was installed, transforming traditional factories from old, dirty, and dimly lit stereotypes into safe and comfortable working spaces. (Edited by Wu Su-rou) 1150504
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship you provide is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.