The documentary film "Their Stories", which chronicles the hard work of female workers during Taiwan's economic development, was digitally remastered and screened on September 18 in the International Conference Hall of the Ministry of Labor. Minister of Labor and Chairman of COAPRE, Hsu Ming-Chun, and President of The Control Yuan, Chen Chu, both attended the screening in person. Family members of the victims of the "25 Ladies Girls Incident," which indirectly led to the birth of the Labor Safety and Health Act (now the Occupational Safety and Health Act), were also present at the event. Minister Hsu Ming-Chun personally put on symbolic scarves symbolizing "embracing" and "walking side by side" for the family members, demonstrating the government’s commitment to safeguarding the safety and health of workers and fostering a more equitable and safer work environment for all citizens.
 

"Their Stories" tells the narrative of the 1970s through a documentary film, combining the repetitive, monotonous hum of machines in the factory with the singing and footage from "The Lonely Woman's Wish". In 1966, the first "Export Processing Zone" in Taiwan and in the world was established in Qianzhen, Kaohsiung, marking the dawn of the light industry era. In the patriarchy of the past, many women, typically the “eldest daughters” in their families, willingly entered the processing zone as factory workers after graduating from elementary school. They took on the responsibility of supporting their families financially so that their male siblings could continue their education.
 

At the age of 15 or 16, young girls from rural areas arrived in the city carrying their belongings. Transitioning from the countryside to the factory floor, their youths were spent on the bustling production lines. Thanks to their extraordinary productivity and economic output, Taiwan was able to realize rapid economic developments. However, on the morning of September 3, 1973, 25 women, concerned about being docked their full attendance bonus for being late, boarded an overcrowded ferry, which later tragically capsized and sank.
 

50th anniversary of the “25 Ladies Incident” - Remastering of “Their Stories”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the "25 Ladies Incident", so "Their Stories" was digitally remastered to commemorate and honor the contributions of female workers to Taiwan's economic boom. Additionally, it is hoped that as time carries on and progress continues, people can embrace a more equitable and safer work environment. The documentary director, Ke Wan-Ching, who was present at the event, mentioned that she used to feel that she had not contributed much because all she did was make a film. However, upon reflection, she now feels different because she realizes that her documentary not only captures the collective memories of people but also becomes everyone’s asset, representing the hard work and lives of people on this land. This is the most precious and moving aspect of the documentary.

Family of the victim: My sister’s sacrifice helped to improve the work environment

The families of the victims of the "25 Ladies Incident" also attended the screening. During the event, there was a special arrangement for Hsu Ming-Chun to tie a symbolic scarf of "warmth" on the families. The scarf design embodies the concepts of "embracing", "connecting", and "walking side by side", representing the government’s commitment to protect the safety and health of workers. The younger sister of one of the victims, Kuo Li-Hsiang, became emotional while sharing her thoughts after the screening. She mentioned that watching the documentary and seeing the image of their late father and missing her older sister touched her deeply. When the shipwreck occurred half a century ago, their father, who was a fisherman, immediately joined the rescue efforts by taking his boat out to sea. When he suddenly discovered his deceased daughter, he broke down and burst into tears. The scene left a profound impression on her, who was just a 12-year-old girl at that time. Because of her older sister’s sacrifice, the government clamped down on the age of child labor and allowed to continue her junior high school education.
 

The brother of another victim Chuang Ching-Pen mentioned that although it has been 5 decades since his third sister passed away, the events of that fateful day are still fresh in his memory. Early that morning, his third sister had to work and he had to go to school. Before they parted, she reminded him to water the flowers, words that are still echoing in his mind today. Mr. Chuang is grateful for his third sister's sacrifices for their family because she gave up her opportunities to make sure he had a better life and a chance to study. Her sacrifice became a driving force for improving Taiwan's work environment.
 

su Ming-Chun: Today’s migrant workers are faced with similar problems encountered by female workers in the past, but the Ministry of Labor will continue to make improvements.

After listening to the stories shared by the victims’ families, Hsu Ming-Chun was brought to tears and commented that women had to step out of their homes for the sake of their family’s livelihood and to increase the labor supply. At the time, 70-90% of the workers at the export processing zones consisted of women who were paid considerably less than their male counterparts, earning only a few hundred dollars compared to the men's thousands. Moreover, women were seldom given promotions, and all team leaders were men. Nonetheless, the women worked diligently and happily, demonstrating their resilient character. Hsu Ming-Chun emphasized that the screening of the documentary serves to express appreciation for the contributions of the unsung heroes towards Taiwan’s economy. At the same time, it is hoped that we can reflect and reconsider what we can do to prevent the tragedy from happening again.

Hsu Ming-Chun expressed gratitude to Chen Chu for passing numerous important labor legislations during her tenure at the Council of Labor Affairs. He also thanked the director for documenting the plight of female workers at the time. Although the film was first produced 15 years ago and has now been digitally remastered, and workplace gender equality has been significantly improved, if Taiwanese female workers in the film are substituted with migrant workers, the issue of worker protection remains relevant. Many industries now rely on migrant workers, making their protection a priority. Therefore, there is still much work to be done, and the Ministry of Labor will continue to strengthen its efforts in this area.
 

Chen Chu: We will always remember the “25 Ladies” for their sacrifice

Chen Chu also attended the event despite her busy schedule, demonstrating her support for female workers through her actions. She mentioned that when she was the Mayor of Kaohsiung, she pushed for establishing the Memorial Park for Women Laborers. The "25 Ladies" tomb became an important asset for the people of Kaohsiung and Taiwan, reminding future generations that Taiwan’s economic development came at the cost of many young women's sacrifices. As people witness Taiwan's “prosperity” and “opulence”, they should not forget the young women who made these achievements possible through their dedication and sacrifice.