New labor minister visits branch where worker committed suicide

Taipei, Nov. 26 (CNA) Taiwan's newly-appointed labor minister on Tuesday listened to the concerns of workers during his first official visit to a branch office where a civil servant killed himself earlier this month.

Labor Minister Hung Shen-han (洪申翰) criticized the work culture that existed under the former leadership of the Workforce Development Agency's (WDA) regional office in New Taipei, which he said had led to "low morale" and workers feeling unable to voice their concerns.

Hung also described as "extremely outrageous" how employees had apparently been required to run personal errands for their former branch leader, who had also installed office decorations that he described as "excessive."

Hung became labor minister on Monday after his predecessor, Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊), resigned over her handling of the suicide of a 39-year-old civil servant, identified by his surname Wu (吳).

Wu's body was discovered at the WDA's office in the Executive Yuan's Xinzhuang Joint Office Tower in New Taipei on Nov. 4.

Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容), who headed the branch at the time of Wu's death, was dismissed on Nov. 20 amid widespread speculation that Wu had been driven to suicide by workplace bullying.

The Ministry of Labor's (MOL) initial handling of the scandal was criticized by lawmakers from across the political spectrum, and even prompted President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) to make public statements denouncing workplace bullying.

After replacing the previous labor minister, Hung vowed to improve the working environment at the MOL to "regain social trust and protect labor rights."

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the 1925, 1995 or 1980 hotlines in Taiwan for counseling or assistance.