To raise awareness and promote the importance of creating a safe and friendly work environment, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor, in collaboration with the Center for Occupational Accident Prevention and Rehabilitation (COAPRE), has launched the 2025 “National Occupational Safety and Health Week Campaign” in recognition of the upcoming “World Day for Safety and Health at Work” on April 28. The campaign officially kicked off on April 21, with Deputy Minister of Labor, Lee, Chien-Hung presiding over the opening ceremony. In partnership with local governments, labor unions, and public and private sector organizations, the Ministry will roll out various nationwide events including seminars, experience-sharing sessions, and exhibitions throughout the week, hoping to minimize occupational accidents and maintain the safety and well-being of workers.

The opening ceremony took place in Taipei today under the theme “Fostering Peace of Mind Through AI.” National Occupational Safety and Health Award recipients such as Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation and AGC Display Glass Taiwan Inc., were invited to share their experiences to encourage wider adoption of effective safety practices. In light of the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), businesses that adequately introduce new technologies into the field of occupational safety and health will be able to improve security monitoring and minimize occupational accidents.

In response to the International Labour Organization's (ILO) initiative, Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor has designated the week of April 28 (World Day for Safety and Health at Work) as “National Occupational Safety and Health Week.” The initiative aims to promote corporate focus on employees’ physical and mental well-being, strengthen work-life balance, prevent unlawful infringement and violence in the workplace, and encourage the creation of a safer and healthier workplace. During the opening ceremony, representatives from the top 100 companies came together to announce their annual workplace safety goals, demonstrating a collective commitment to occupational accident prevention and the protection of employee health. This initiative is expected to enhance public awareness and engagement regarding occupational accident reduction/prevention, and workers’ rights to health.

A key feature of the event was a panel discussion that brought together experts from government and academia, including OSHA Director-General, Professor Chen, Jui-Yu from the School of Public Health at Taipei Medical University, and Professor Chen, Hsieh-Ching from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at National Taipei University of Technology. The panel explored the impacts and doubts posed by the adoption of AI and digital technologies on workers in the workplace.

The Ministry of Labor considers workers to be a company's greatest asset, asserting that occupational safety and health are the cornerstones of a strong corporate safety culture. Since the Labor Occupational Accident Insurance and Protection Act came into force in 2022, it has considerably expanded the scope of coverage and enhanced benefits to protect the livelihoods of workers after an occupational accident. The emergence of AI has facilitated new technological advancements that significantly enhance occupational safety and health measures, such as the integration of AI with virtual reality (VR) technology that allows for the simulation of hazardous scenarios. Additionally, smart wearable devices help monitor workers’ conditions to ensure their safety. These emerging technologies are instrumental in creating valuable new opportunities to improve workplace safety and in building a more resilient protective system for workers.

During the experience-sharing session, Director Feng, Chi-Hung of Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation (FCFC), a recipient of the 2024 National Occupational Safety and Health Award, emphasized that FCFC's core value in cultivating a safety culture is a “people-oriented” approach. Backed by Chairman Hung, Fu-Yuan, the company is committed to 2 strategic pillars: “intrinsic equipment safety” and “advanced autonomous management.” By applying AI and big data, FCFC has implemented numerous occupational safety and health measures. To further bolster employee safety training and disaster preparedness, as well as realize accident prevention, the Company has established a technical training center and an industrial safety classroom within its Mailiao plant. Besides safety, FCFC places a strong emphasis on employee health and well-being, treating its workforce as part of a family and striving to foster a healthy, high-performance workplace.

Furthermore, FCFC has vigorously advanced workplace digitalization in recent years, including AI-powered predictive maintenance technology for critical equipment to strengthen safety monitoring during operations and construction activities. It also employs a Safety, Health, and Environment (HSE) data management platform to analyze operational risks at their source, as well as prevent occupational hazards through pre-job training and awareness campaigns. Looking ahead, it will continue to enhance our safety management systems through the integration of smart technologies and standardized management, allowing its employees to work with peace of mind.

“Production cannot proceed without safety.” This principle lies at the heart of AGC Display Glass Taiwan Inc.’s occupational safety and health policy. The Company, honored with the 2024 National Occupational Safety and Health Award, exemplifies this commitment. According to Manager Chiu, Wei-Chuan, the overall occupational safety and health standards among Taiwanese enterprises have improved considerably over the past decade, thanks to joint efforts from the government and Taiwanese businesses. Apart from constantly refining its safety and health initiatives, AGC emphasizes "psychological safety" as a cornerstone of its employee well-being strategy. This focus has significantly reshaped the Company’s safety and health culture, fostering a stronger sense of psychological security among employees. As a result, team members feel more empowered to voice their opinions and raise concerns, while also demonstrating a greater willingness to take shared responsibility for risk management, in turn enriching the sharing of the Company's safety culture experiences. By creating an open, trusting workplace, employees can reach their full potential in a stress-free environment and voluntarily engage in the Company's safety and health efforts.

To prevent workplace unlawful infringement and promote a more comfortable work environment, Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor will, following the launch of National Occupational Safety and Health Week, join forces with local governments, public and private enterprises, and relevant labor unions to implement a series of relevant initiatives nationwide during Health Week. In addition to the events held during and leading up to the week of April 28, businesses are encouraged to carry out workplace safety and health awareness campaigns, seminars, training programs, and technical guidance from now through the end of the year, thereby reinforcing protection for worker safety and well-being. The Ministry of Labor invites all industries to attend the National Occupational Safety and Health Week-related activities to contribute towards the lifting of occupational safety and health service standards in Taiwan.