It has been more than a year since the “Labor Occupational Accident Insurance and Protection Act” was implemented. Given the diversification of socio-economic and commercial models, labor patterns have also become more diverse, making it essential for labor protections to keep up with the latest developments. The Ministry of Labor is organizing the "Occupational Safety, Health, and Rehabilitation International Conference" on November 10 and 11 at the Grand Hotel Taipei. This event will bring together nearly 400 experts and scholars in the field of occupational accident prevention and rehabilitation from home and abroad. Through the sharing of international experiences, the conference will inspire professional thinking in the field of occupational safety and occupational accident rehabilitation services in Taiwan, further advancing future initiatives and efforts.

This conference is organized by the Ministry of Labor and prepared and coordinated by OSHA and COAPRE. It is also supported by the Asian Law Institute and the Taiwan Labor Law Association. The event invites close to 400 experts, scholars, and industry professionals in the field of occupational accident prevention and rehabilitation from Taiwan and abroad, including Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, India, and Vietnam to engage in discussions. The conference topics cover the occupational risks of emerging professions and the development of accident compensation legislation. This includes protections for slash workers and freelancers. Furthermore, due to the development of communication software and the trend of work-from-home (WFH) or decentralized work following the COVID-19 pandemic, there will also be discussions on the physical and mental well-being of workers who work from anywhere or are unable to disconnect after working hours.

It is worth mentioning that, Wang Jung-Te, a renowned authority on occupational accident rehabilitation and public health, and an honorary professor at the College of Medicine, Department of Public Health of National Cheng Kung University, will also discuss the benefits of preventing major injuries and diseases on health insurance expenditures through empirical research methods. He will point out the importance of preventing occupational injuries and diseases, highlighting that reducing personal productivity loss and medical expenses can generate long-term synergy.

In addition, the conference also invited Prof. Tateishi Seiichiro from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan to introduce the support for injured and ill workers by the medical care system in Japan, and how they strike a balance between work and treatment. Prof. Seunghyun Lee, a labor compensation and benefits services expert from the Seoul Northern Occupational Disease Evaluation Committee in Korea, introduced services provided by the Korean government to help occupational accident workers return to work. These services include return to work subsidies, replacement worker support fund, and workplace adaptation training expenses.

The implementation of the "Labor Occupational Accident Insurance and Protection Act" in Taiwan has ushered in a new era of occupational accident worker services. Various injury and disease diagnosis and treatment hospitals, occupational rehabilitation institutions, and local governments are now at the forefront of providing integrated professional services by forming a comprehensive service network that can look after and support occupational accident workers. COAPRE is vigorously bolstering collaboration among departments within medical treatment institutions and guiding occupational rehabilitation institutions to improve workers’ working capacity and the quality of reinforcement training, hoping to meet the needs of occupational accident workers and enhance their return to work opportunities. If you have relevant needs, download the center’s "Occupational Accident Guardian" app to apply for related services, or check the official website for the latest information. “Occupational Accident Guardian app”: For iPhones, download the app from the App Store(App Store); for Android phones, download the app from Google Play.(Google Play)