Long Working Hours Force Women to Resign for Family; Civil Groups Call for Reform Ahead of Mother's Day

On the eve of Mother's Day, a coalition of civil groups in Taiwan is sounding the alarm over the detrimental impact of the nation's notoriously long working hours on women and families. Their message is clear: the current labor system is forcing women to choose between their careers and their family responsibilities, a choice that has profound and lasting consequences.

These groups are urging the government to implement substantial reforms, including a significant increase in statutory minimum annual leave and a systemic reduction in overall working hours. They point to Taiwan's high annual working hours, which far exceed those in many developed nations, and the insufficient leave days as key factors contributing to burnout and the "caregiving leave" phenomenon. Women, often shouldering the majority of unpaid care work, find themselves unable to cope with both demanding jobs and family needs, leading to resignations that stall careers and jeopardize future financial stability.

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Taiwanese women spend an average of 3.03 hours per day on unpaid care, and 4.41 hours if they have a spouse, which is 2.6 times that of their male partners. Long working hours with no leave mean that leaving work for childcare is inevitable, not only interrupting salaries but also resetting years of service, impacting future career salary growth and retirement security, forming a triple chain break in salary, years of service, and labor insurance.

The perspective from these advocacy groups is one of urgent necessity. They argue that long working hours not only create gender inequality but also contribute to Taiwan's low birth rate, as young people are hesitant to start families in an environment that offers little work-life balance. The call for reform is not just about improving conditions for women; it's about fostering a more sustainable and equitable society where family values and professional aspirations can coexist. This is a uniquely Taiwanese struggle, where the pressures of a high-tech economy intersect with deeply ingrained cultural expectations of familial duty.

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The so-called work-hour flexibility in Taiwan is currently the employer's flexibility, and employers' flexibility means that employees work long hours. Full-time employees often work as high as 41.5 hours per week.