In response to media reports on October 25th, 2024, indicating that 50 leading global apparel brands have urged Taiwan to ensure responsible recruitment practices, the Taiwan Labor Front (台灣勞工陣線) has expressed significant concern over this issue. The organization has called upon the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Ministry of Labor (MOL) to implement more comprehensive measures regarding human rights initiatives. These include enhancing the "National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights," strengthening corporate due diligence processes, developing supply chain human rights legislation, and establishing the National Contact Point (NCP) mechanism. The MOEA has subsequently issued the following statement addressing the concerns raised by labor groups:
The MOEA is scheduled to update Taiwan's "National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights" (hereinafter referred to as the "NAP") by the end of this year. It has been approximately four years since the initial NAP was published in 2020, which was developed in alignment with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). This update primarily aims to reinforce the implementation of the three pillars outlined in the UNGPs: " The State Duty to Protect Human Rights," " The Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights," and "Access to Remedy."
The development of Taiwan's "Guidelines on Business to Respect Human Rights" (hereinafter referred to as "the Guidelines") is expected to be completed by the end of this year. To further assist corporations in implementing concrete measures to respect human rights, a version tailored for Taiwanese business entities is being developed, drawing inspiration from guidelines issued by advanced economies such as Japan. The draft Guidelines focus on three key measures for enterprises: (1) corporate policy, (2) human rights due diligence, and (3) remedy. Regarding due diligence, corporations are expected to regularly identify, prevent, mitigate, and terminate adverse human rights impacts within their own operations, group companies, and other business-related entities in their supply chains. Furthermore, they should track the qualitative and quantitative outcomes of these efforts and communicate and disclose the results to stakeholders.
During the development process of the NAP and Guidelines, the MOEA has conducted extensive stakeholder engagement. This comprehensive process includes multiple consultations, workshops, and public hearings with human rights organizations and other relevant stakeholders. The ministry has actively incorporated the views and recommendations of these human rights groups into the drafting process.
To enhance awareness and encourage voluntary adoption of the proposed NAP and Guidelines among business entities, the MOEA has launched several initiatives. In addition to establishing the " Business And Human Rights in Taiwan " portal to provide and update relevant information, the MOEA plans to organize two workshops in each of Taiwan's northern, central, and southern regions by the end of this year. These workshops aim to further promote the initiatives and gather feedback from the business community. Subsequently, the insights gained will be utilized to review, revise, and improve the proposed measures.
Regarding the National Contact Point (NCP), the Executive Yuan has designated the MOEA as Taiwan's NCP. In this capacity, the MOEA is responsible for inter-ministerial coordination, addressing complaints related to corporate human rights violations, promoting international standards, and fostering international cooperation in these areas.
The Department of Investment Promotion of the MOEA emphasizes that respecting human rights has become a global trend for businesses. For instance, the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which came into effect on July, 2024. In light of this global development, the department will continue to encourage corporations to prioritize their human rights responsibilities and obligations to maintain their international competitiveness.
Spokesperson: Senior Specialist, Su-Ling Lin
Department of Investment Promotion, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Phone Number: 02-2389-2111 ext. 822
Email: sllin2@moea.gov.tw
Business Contact: Senior Specialist, Wen-Lin Chu
Department of Investment Promotion, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Tel: 02-2389-2111 ext. 825
Mobile: 0933-955-666
Email: wlchu1@moea.gov.tw
