Typhoon Bawee Approaches: Taipei Labor Dept. Warns Employers Against Docking Pay for Typhoon Days

As Typhoon Bawee, described as having the largest wind radius of the 21st century, nears Taiwan, Taipei's Department of Labor is taking proactive measures to ensure worker safety. The department has instructed the Taipei City Labor Inspection Office to conduct anti-typhoon checks on large construction sites. Special attention is being paid to high-risk facilities, including external scaffolding and tower cranes, to ensure all necessary safety precautions are in place before the strong winds arrive.

The department has issued a clear reminder to employers regarding labor laws during natural disasters. According to regulations, if a worker's place of employment, residence, or commute route is in an area where the head of the jurisdiction has announced a suspension of work, or if transportation is blocked due to the disaster, employers cannot deduct wages. Workers should not be marked as absent or late, nor should they be forced to take personal leave or other types of leave. Employers are also prohibited from demanding make-up workdays, deducting full attendance bonuses, or terminating employment based on such absences.

Beyond construction sites, the Department of Labor extended its safety advisory to other high-risk outdoor industries, such as delivery services. It urged these businesses to enhance safety protections and immediately halt services if a work suspension is announced. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to NT$100,000 under the "Taipei City Regulations on the Management of Delivery Platform Operators."

For construction sites, specific safety protocols are being enforced. These include removing tarpaulins and advertisements from scaffolding to prevent excessive wind pressure, securing tower cranes by releasing rotation brakes to avoid collision or electric shock risks, and halting tower crane operations when wind speeds exceed 10 meters per second. Measures for excavation sites and those near riverbanks focus on preventing water accumulation that could lead to ground subsidence or collapse, while hillside construction sites must prepare for potential landslides or debris flows.

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According to the 'Guidelines for the Management of Labor Attendance and Wage Payment by Business Entities During Natural Disasters,' if the place of work, residence, or commute route of the worker is in a jurisdiction where the head of the jurisdiction announces suspension of work, or if transportation is blocked due to the disaster and the worker cannot commute, the employer shall not deduct wages, nor shall it be considered absenteeism or lateness, nor shall it be treated as personal leave or other leave, nor shall it be required to make up work, deduct full attendance bonus, or dismiss the employee.