Taichung Councilor Demands Reinvestigation into Death of Assistive Center Employee in Office

CNA Message (CNA Reporter Hao Hsueh-ching, Taichung, 20th) — Taichung City Councilor Chiang Chao-kuo revealed during a municipal general inquiry today that a female employee of the Taichung City Haixian Assistive Technology Center was found dead in her office early this year, suspected to be due to excessive work pressure. Mayor Lu Shiow-yen stated she was unaware of the matter; Chiang Chao-kuo demanded a reinvestigation to bring justice to the family. The Taichung City Council held its municipal general inquiry today. Democratic Progressive Party City Councilor Chiang Chao-kuo stated during the inquiry that a female employee of the Haixian Assistive Technology Center was found dead in her office on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year this year, leaving only a message saying her work pressure was too great. He questioned why the city's Social Affairs Bureau was indifferent afterwards, and after a long wait, the deceased's family only received an investigation report from the Social Affairs Bureau stating 'regret and sadness, with no prior signs.' Lu Shiow-yen stated that she only learned of the matter today, admitting she was unaware. Chiang Chao-kuo found it incredible that Lu Shiow-yen was completely unaware of such a major incident and demanded that the city government must reopen the investigation, understand the deceased's work situation before her death, and give the family justice. Chiang Chao-kuo said that the Haixian Assistive Technology Center is operated by a foundation commissioned by the Social Affairs Bureau. The center's annual contract performance target is 3,500 cases, while its work completion rate reached 153%, and this employee worked 13 or 14 hours a day. He questioned the city's claim of 'no workload overload' as mere shirking of responsibility. The Taichung City Government's Social Affairs Bureau expressed deep regret over this unfortunate incident. After the incident occurred, the city government immediately launched an investigation, and the Social Affairs Bureau dispatched personnel to care for the family in the first instance. The Social Affairs Bureau pointed out that the Haixian Assistive Technology Center is operated by a social welfare charitable foundation, and this employee had been employed for many years. After receiving notification, the city government, in addition to requiring the operating unit to explain the course of events and handling, also had the Labor Inspection Office conduct a labor inspection, and convened a consultation meeting with the family, the operating unit, and the Labor Inspection Office. Deputy Mayor Lai Shu-hui also personally chaired an inter-departmental meeting to coordinate subsequent arrangements, and relevant investigation materials have been provided to the family. The Taichung City Government's Labor Bureau stated that according to a letter from the Taiwan Taichung District Prosecutors Office, the cause of death in this case is not related to an occupational hazard and does not fall under the definition of an occupational accident as defined by the 'Occupational Safety and Health Act.' The Social Affairs Bureau also pointed out that according to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare's investigation system, the employee operated the system for a cumulative total of 16 hours during non-working hours from August last year to February this year. Based on the current investigation data, no excessive overtime was found. Additionally, the Labor Bureau found that the operating unit had not legally established 'preventive measures against unlawful harm during the performance of duties,' nor had it retained relevant implementation records. It has been ordered to make improvements within a time limit and will be continuously monitored. The Social Affairs Bureau stated