Taiwan – Freedom of association

IV. The corporate responsibility to respect human rights

B. Actions taken

• Respect for employee interests and the views of stakeholders (page 12)

‘The workplace is especially important to the human rights of a company’s employees. Examples include an employee’s right to take part in collective bargaining, to form or join in a union, or the protection of labor rights. Accordingly, the Taiwan government actively provides guidance to laborers, focusing on such matters as formation of unions, creation of an environment that is conducive to a smoothly operating union, support for women’s employment, and assistance with the elimination of employment barriers.

At the same time, the Taiwan government encourages businesses to engage in dialogue with stakeholders, unions, and the general public regarding issues involving corporate social responsibility, in order to discover problems and take constructive steps to find mutually acceptable solutions. Investors and consumers are important stakeholders, and as such are be able to question how a business is run and express support and encouragement. News organizations, as members of the Fourth Estate, exercise independent oversight and can spur the public to pay closer attention to corporate social responsibility issues.’

This information is also covered under Appendix 4: Overview of the implementation of the state duty to protect and the access to remedy, The state duty to protect, UNGP4, Actions taken (page 44).