The Ministry's Institute of Labor and Occupational Safety and Health (ILOSH) visited the Hsinchu Science Park Administration and TSMC to discuss the potential application of personal protective clothing performance testing technology and human body measurement technology developed by the ILOSH. This aims to assist the semiconductor industry in ensuring the protective performance of personal protective clothing and suitable sizes for individuals, protecting workers from chemical splashes. Additionally, assistance was provided in analyzing the legality of emergency exhaust aux-iliary devices for semiconductor industry use, allowing for flexible adjust-ments to production processes and reducing workers' exposure to chemical substances.

Announced amendments to Article 2 of the “Enforcement Rules of the La-bor Standards Act,” changing the name referenced in Subparagraph 6 from the Act of Gender Equality in Employment to the Gender Equality in Em-ployment Act.

The 2024 Labor Insurance Relief Loans application period ended on Janu-ary 19, 2024. A total of 119,228 workers benefited from these loans, with a total disbursement amount of NT$11.908 billion.

In response to the Central Bank's raising of interest rates by 12.5 basis points, the “Worker Relief Loan” interest rate was raised from 2.345% to 2.47%. In order to take care of economically disadvantaged workers, the MOL fully subsidized the corresponding increase in interest rates for mort-gages.

Announced amendments to certain provisions of the “Regulations Govern-ing the Selection and Appointment of Vocational Training Instructors” to enhance the qualifications of vocational training instructors at all levels and attract outstanding national athletes from international skills competitions to enrich the talent pool of vocational training instructors and ensure smooth promotion channels.