Taiwan mandates occupational accident insurance for all workers

Taiwan has approved a law that mandates occupational accident insurance for all workers, ensuring that they will receive two months of full salary payout for those who suffer from an occupational injury or disease.

Under the Occupational Accident Insurance and Protection Act, employers are required to sign their staff up for the insurance on their first day at work, regardless of company size, or face a fine of up to NT$100,000 (US$3,562).

The monthly insured salary ranges from the minimum wage of NT$24,000 (US$860) to NT$72,800 (US$2,609). The insurance payouts cover the event of disability, death, disappearance, and medical treatment of the injury or disease. 

The legislation covers all workers in Taiwan, including foreigners, interns, and domestic helpers, so long as they are legally hired. However, it remains unclear whether the law covers workers who are employed as contractors, writes Focus Taiwan. 

The act integrates the prevention of occupational hazard, rehabilitation and compensation into one single law, said Liao Hui-fang, chairperson of Taiwan Occupational Safety and Health Link.

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Before the act was passed, only firms employing five or more staff are required to have labour insurance for their employees, which covers occupational accident insurance and protection. Firms with less than five staff were not mandated to enrol their workers for such an insurance.