Ministry of Interior rejects New Taipei worker housing bill over resale concerns; Mayor Hou vows continued dialogue

New Taipei City's initiative to encourage businesses to construct "enterprise worker housing" – rental-only units aimed at alleviating the burden of high housing costs for laborers – has been met with a rejection from the Ministry of the Interior. The central government cited concerns over potential resale of the properties and whether they qualify as essential factory facilities.

New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih expressed his commitment to the project, stating that both workers and industries require such housing. He emphasized that the city has submitted its policy proposal to the central government and hopes for supportive measures, including legislative amendments, to materialize the plan. "New Taipei will continue to communicate, hoping that worker housing can be implemented," Hou said.

The proposed amendment to the Urban Planning Act's enforcement rules in New Taipei City would have allowed for the inclusion of enterprise worker housing in Type B industrial zones. These units would be restricted to rental only, with the total land area for such housing not exceeding 20% of the industrial zone's total area. The plan was submitted for review last year but was ultimately denied by the Ministry of the Interior.

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New Taipei will continue to communicate, hoping that worker housing can be implemented.