The Ministry of Labor hosted the "2023 Occupational Safety, Health, and Rehabilitation International Conference". Today (11th) is the second day of the conference, the special report focused on rehabilitation services for occupational accident workers. The opening ceremony was jointly hosted by Tsou Tzu-Lien, Director of OSHA, and Ho Jiune-Jye, CEO of COAPRE. In response to the current challenges in rehabilitation services and the somewhat insufficient service capacity, the Ministry of Labor plans to implement a "one-stop" service to provide integrated services encompassing prevention, protection, and rehabilitation.
 

Tsou Tzu-Lien emphasized during an interview that occupational safety and health are vital responsibilities in the post-pandemic era. This is especially true as companies place greater emphasis on sustainable development, making the return to work of occupational accident workers a crucial factor. It is widely recognized that the longer it takes for occupational accident workers to receive rehabilitation services, the more challenging it becomes for them to return to work. The “Labor Occupational Accident Insurance and Protection Act”, which was promulgated in May last year, aims to provide occupational rehabilitation support to occupational accident workers while they undergo medical treatment. With better mechanisms and assistive devices, and the forming of stronger ties with businesses, the aim is to facilitate the seamless reintegration of occupational accident workers back into their original workplaces. This approach not only reduces business losses but also promotes the sustainable development of the workforce.

Tsou Tzu-Lien emphasized that Taiwan has demonstrated good performance after a year of implementation, hence Taiwan’s experience can be shared with the international community via the conference. Furthermore, interactions and learning with various countries also serve as the nutrient for nurturing Taiwan’s future growth and legislative establishment, enabling a positive, sustainable development of Taiwan's workforce. Ho Jiune-Jye pointed out that the center has planned a comprehensive one-stop service under the instruction of Chairman Hsu Ming-Chun. With countries around the world gathered under one roof for the international conference, their invaluable opinions will be able to further enhance the program.
 

On the second day of the “2023 Occupational Safety, Health, and Rehabilitation International Conference”, Prof. Tateishi Seiichiro from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, presented a speech entitled "Employment Support for Injured and Ill Workers in Japan: Exploring the Balance between Work and Medical Treatment"; Prof. Seunghyun Lee from the Seoul Northern Occupational Disease Evaluation Committee in Korea delivered a presentation on "Korean Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Diseases and Injuries and Return to Work". On the domestic front, Prof. Wang Jung-Te, an honorary professor at the College of Medicine, Department of Public Health of National Cheng Kung University, presented "Preventing Major Injuries and Diseases to Save Lives, Health Insurance Costs, and Productivity Losses: Methods of Estimation and Empirical Studies".
 

In addressing the present and future issues regarding the rehabilitation services for workers occupational accident workers in Taiwan, Director Chang Yu from the Occupational Accident Workers Rehabilitation Service Division of COAPRE emphasized that the primary challenge encountered in Taiwan's rehabilitation services is the “lack of occupational rehabilitation services”.
 

According to Chang Yu, statistics show that there are more than 40,000 cases of occupational injuries annually. However, the existing 31 approved occupational rehabilitation institutions can only accommodate up to 2,000 people, with around 800 receiving reinforcement training. The current facilities have limited space, which makes it difficult for occupational accident workers with moderate to severe injuries to access occupational rehabilitation services. Moreover, there are insufficient services to help workers readjust to the workplace after they return to work, and the locations of rehabilitation facilities are not convenient, accessible, or readily available.
 

Chang Yu reported that COAPRE has been tasked to establish the "Home for Occupational Health and Rehabilitation (provisional name)" next year. This new facility aims to integrate prevention and rehabilitation services, providing comprehensive, one-stop assistance to address current challenges in rehabilitation services.