TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Legislative Yuan on Tuesday passed amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act that introduce comprehensive workplace bullying prevention rules and impose fines of up to NT$1 million (US$31,000) on top executives found guilty of bullying.

A series of recent workplace bullying incidents has drawn public attention to gaps in the legal framework, per CNA. To strengthen worker protections, the Cabinet approved draft amendments in August, adding a special chapter on workplace bullying prevention, and forwarded the bill to the legislature.

The Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee completed a preliminary review in late October. Lawmakers from all parties agreed to place the bill on the agenda for Tuesday, when it completed its third reading.

The new chapter defines workplace bullying as situations in which personnel at a business use their position or influence to repeatedly engage in offensive, threatening, dismissive, isolating, insulting or otherwise inappropriate speech or behavior that harms a worker’s physical or mental health. For severe cases, repeated occurrences are not necessary to qualify as workplace bullying.

The amendments specify that employers with 30 or more workers must establish workplace bullying prevention measures, complaint procedures and disciplinary rules, and publicly post them in the workplace. Employers with 10 or more workers must at least set up a workplace bullying complaint channel and post it publicly.

When employers receive a bullying complaint, they must take steps to prevent further harm and, depending on circumstances, provide counseling or necessary assistance and protective measures, as well as conduct mediation or an investigation. Employers must also register the complaint and the investigation outcome on a government-designated website to prevent selective reporting.

Employers should adhere to the principles of objectivity, impartiality, and fairness when investigating workplace bullying incidents, ensuring both parties have opportunities to present their views and defend themselves. Employers above a certain size must form an investigation panel, with external members making up at least half.

Workers who experience bullying must file complaints with their employer, but if the accused is the highest-ranking executive, they may file directly with the county or city competent authority. Local authorities may request assistance from professionals or non-governmental organizations, and external members must likewise account for at least half of the investigation panel.

If an employer’s investigation is found to violate relevant standards or contain major procedural flaws, labor authorities or labor inspectors may order a reinvestigation, and employers may not refuse.

Employers who fail to provide assistance or investigate after learning of workplace bullying may be fined NT$30,000 to NT$750,000. If the highest-ranking executive is found to have committed workplace bullying, they may be fined NT$10,000 to NT$1 million.

The amendments also raise criminal penalties and administrative fines for employer violations to deter misconduct. In cases of fatal workplace accidents, the maximum prison sentence increases from three to five years, and the maximum fine rises from NT$300,000 to NT$1.5 million.

For accidents injuring three or more workers, the maximum sentence increases from one to three years, and the maximum fine rises from NT$180,000 to NT$1 million.

For administrative penalties, the maximum fine for violating management measures increases from NT$150,000 to NT$750,000. Employers who violate safety facility requirements may be fined NT$50,000 to NT$3 million.