The Legislative Yuan recently passed amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act in its third reading, marking the most extensive revision since the law took effect in 2013. The amendments focus on comprehensive workplace accident prevention and the formalization of workplace bullying regulations, responding to public concerns over recent occupational accidents and bullying incidents by strengthening source management, clarifying responsibilities, and significantly increasing penalties.
In response to frequent construction-related accidents, the amendments strengthen the responsibilities of project owners. Projects above a certain scale are now required to conduct risk assessments and allocate appropriate occupational safety budgets at the contracting stage. When projects are subcontracted, owners must designate one contractor to oversee integrated safety management to prevent accountability gaps and ensure hazard prevention from the design and planning stages.
The amendments also introduce a dedicated chapter on workplace bullying prevention, formally defining workplace bullying for the first time. If personnel use their authority or power inappropriately to insult, threaten, isolate, or otherwise mistreat workers beyond reasonable work-related requirements, causing harm to physical or mental health, such conduct constitutes bullying. In serious cases, continuity of behavior is not required. If the accused is the highest executive, workers may directly file complaints with local authorities, with investigations involving external professionals.
Penalties have been significantly increased. In cases of fatal workplace accidents, employers may face imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to NT$1.5 million. For accidents involving injuries to three or more workers, fines may reach NT$1 million. Administrative fines for safety facility violations may reach NT$3 million, while executives found guilty of workplace bullying face fines of NT$10,000 to NT$1 million. Violators’ information will be publicly disclosed to strengthen social oversight.
