TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) announced on Thursday (Nov. 14) that it has assembled a team of external experts in gender equality and psychological counseling, along with employee representatives, to investigate an alleged workplace bullying incident.
An analyst at the Taipei-Keelung-Yilan-Hualien-Kinmen-Matsu Regional Branch of the Workforce Development Agency (勞動部勞動發展署北分署) reportedly took his own life in the office last Monday. The MOL hired external specialists to ensure a thorough inquiry last Saturday.
The ministry emphasized the need for confidentiality and impartiality in the ongoing investigation and refrained from disclosing the names of the committee members. Labor Minister Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) urged the public to allow sufficient time for the investigation, assuring that it will remain unbiased.
Meanwhile, the incident continues to draw attention, with Legislator Liu Chien-kuo (劉建國) revealing that 81 employees have resigned since Branch Director Hsieh Yi-rong (謝宜容) assumed her position two years ago.
Former employees have described a stressful work environment under Hsieh's leadership, with some even avoiding basic necessities like drinking water or going to the bathroom. Allegations have also surfaced regarding Hsieh's influence, as she reportedly threatened staff to keep quiet about a meeting with then-Deputy Minister Wang An-pang (王安邦), who resigned shortly afterward, raising suspicions about Hsieh's potential political connections to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨).
