Taiwan Workers’ Union survey links overwork to health problems

Between September 1 and 17, 2026, an anonymous online survey conducted by the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Workers’ Union and reported by Hankyoreh 21 revealed that 73.3 percent of surveyed semiconductor and electrical-electronic workers experienced health problems due to overwork, while 86.7 percent reported engaging in overtime labor.

Overwork Realities in Taiwan Semiconductor Industries

Taiwan is frequently characterized as an island of intense labor demands, yet Ministry of Labor data from 2025 based on 2024 OECD figures indicates an average weekly working time of 41.5 hours for full-time regular employees. This figure is lower than parallel averages in South Korea at 43.8 hours and Japan at 42.9 hours. Despite these averages, overwork within the semiconductor sector remains a documented social issue.

The survey administered through the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Workers’ Union gathered responses from 30 workers, including 12 research and development engineers. Of the total respondents, 86.7 percent stated they performed overtime labor. Only 13.3 percent reported working fewer than 40 hours per week, while 63.3 percent logged under 50 hours, and 23.3 percent worked under 60 hours weekly.

Overwork Causes Health Anomalies for Most Engineers

When asked about physical and psychological health, 73.3 percent of the 30 respondents confirmed experiencing health anomalies attributed to overwork. Multiple-choice responses detailed depression and anxiety at 66.7 percent, sleep disorders at 50 percent, and severe stress at 43.3 percent.

When isolating the responses of 12 semiconductor research and development staff and engineers, the reported health impacts escalated. Among this subgroup, 91.7 percent reported health complications—double the 50 percent rate found in the broader electrical and electronic manufacturing cohort. Rates of depression and anxiety reached 83 percent among R&D workers, while 67 percent reported severe stress.

Workplace Culture and Regulatory Compliance Gaps

Respondents identified staff shortages and harsh, authoritative corporate cultures as the primary drivers of overwork, each selected by 46.7 percent of participants. Current and former employees of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company frequently describe the corporate environment as strict and military-like. Taiwan’s Labor Standards Act sets statutory hours at eight hours per day and 40 hours per week, capping daily labor including overtime at 12 hours. However, Taiwan regulates overtime on a monthly basis with a general ceiling of 46 hours per month, rather than South Korea’s weekly accumulation cap.

Regarding legal compliance, only 40 percent of respondents stated their employers strictly followed labor laws, while 33 percent answered that regulations were either not followed at all or rarely followed. Yao Lin, secretary-general of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Workers’ Union, explained to Hankyoreh 21 that safety and health supervision in the Hsinchu Science Park falls under the Hsinchu Science Park Bureau rather than the Ministry of Labor, which he characterized as an institutional carve-out that deprioritizes labor protections.

Expert Analysis and Policy Implications for South Korea

The survey results emerged as the South Korean government under President Lee Jae-myung pursues a “Mega Special Zone Special Act” aimed at establishing a semiconductor cluster in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region by easing regulatory hurdles. This includes reviewing exemptions from South Korea’s 52-hour weekly work cap for semiconductor research personnel. Among the survey respondents who experienced chronic overwork, 20 individuals warned that these proposed exemptions would foster more extreme overwork conditions.

Liang-hung Li, vice chairperson of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Workers' Union, stated that TSMC currently faces recruitment challenges for elite engineers due to prevailing labor conditions, contrasted against North American and Japanese firms emphasizing work-life balance. Dr. Wu cautioned South Korean policymakers against viewing Taiwan as a model of labor exploitation, emphasizing that Taiwan maintains statutory hour limits and applies them without exemptions for semiconductor engineers.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.

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