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Taiwan

Vacation and Leave Policies

Understand the regulations on vacation and other types of leave in Taiwan

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Holiday leave

In Taiwan, the number of annual leave days an employee is entitled to depends on their length of service with the same employer. For instance, employees who have served between 3 months to 1 year are entitled to 3 days of annual leave. This entitlement increases to 7 days for those who have served between 1 year to 2 years. Employees who have served between 2 years to 3 years are entitled to 10 days, and this further increases to 14 days for those who have served between 3 years to 5 years. Employees who have served between 5 years to 10 years are entitled to 15 days. For those who have served for 10 years and above, they are entitled to one additional day of leave for each additional year, up to a maximum of 30 days.

Continuous Service

The number of leave days an employee is entitled to is dependent on continuous employment with the same employer.

Unused Leave

Employees have the option to carry over any unused leave days to the following year. Alternatively, employers can choose to pay employees for some of their unused leave days, although they must retain a minimum number of leave days.

Scheduling

The scheduling of vacation days is often a collaborative effort between employers and employees.

Public holidays

Taiwan is known for its diverse array of holidays, which are deeply rooted in historical events, cultural traditions, and international observances.

Traditional Holidays

Taiwan's traditional holidays include the Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, which is the most significant holiday in Taiwan and is celebrated over multiple days. The date varies based on the lunar calendar.

Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as Qing Ming Festival, is a time to honor ancestors. The date is based on the solar calendar and usually falls on April 4th or 5th.

The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the poet Qu Yuan. The date for this festival also varies based on the lunar calendar.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a harvest celebration. The date for this festival varies based on the lunar calendar.

National Holidays

Taiwan's national holidays include the Founding Day of the Republic of China, which celebrates the establishment of the Republic of China on January 1st, 1912.

Peace Memorial Day is observed on February 28th and marks the 228 Incident of 1947, promoting peace.

Taiwan Retrocession Day is celebrated on October 25th and commemorates the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945.

Armed Forces Day, which falls on September 3rd, honors Taiwan's military forces.

Other Holidays

Other holidays celebrated in Taiwan include Children's Day on April 4th and Labor Day on May 1st.

Double Tenth Day, also known as National Day, is celebrated on October 10th. This day marks the anniversary of the Wuchang Uprising in 1911, which led to the establishment of the Republic of China.

Types of leave

In Taiwan, employees are entitled to various types of leave based on different circumstances. These include annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, family care leave, bereavement leave, menstrual leave, and marriage leave.

Annual Leave

Employees are entitled to paid annual leave based on their length of service. The specific amounts are outlined in the Labor Standards Act, Articles 36-38.

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to up to 30 days of sick leave per year. The first 30 days are paid at half salary, and any additional days are unpaid. This is according to the Labor Standards Act, Article 43.

Maternity Leave

Female employees are entitled to 8 weeks of paid maternity leave, usually split with 4 weeks taken before and 4 weeks after giving birth. This is outlined in the Act of Gender Equality in Employment, Article 15.

Paternity Leave

Fathers are entitled to 5 days of unpaid paternity leave within the first 5 months after the child's birth. This is also outlined in the Act of Gender Equality in Employment, Article 15.

Family Care Leave

Employees can take unpaid leave to care for family members in need of care. Specifics on eligibility and duration are outlined in the regulations of the Act of Gender Equality in Employment, Regulations for Implementing Unpaid Family Care Leave.

Bereavement Leave

In the case of the death of a family member, employees are entitled to bereavement leave. 8 days for parents, 6 days for a spouse, and 3 days for other relatives. This is according to the Labor Standards Act, Article 43.

Other Notable Leave Types

Female employees are entitled to 3 days of menstrual leave per year with half pay (additional days are unpaid). Employees also get 8 days of paid leave for their marriage.

Important Considerations

Employers and workers may have further agreements on specific leave provisions within employment contracts or based on company policies.

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