On April 26, the Ministry of Labor hosted the "2024 National Occupational Safety and Health Week" launch ceremony, focusing on "sustainable workplaces" and elevating occupational accident prevention awareness. ASUSTEK Computer Inc. and Taiwan Green Point Enterprises Co., Ltd., companies with outstanding occupational safety and health performance, were invited to share their experiences, hoping to provide practical approaches that inspire other enterprises to foster a safe, healthy, and comfortable work environment together. The ultimate goal is to materialize sustainable corporate development.

In supporting the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) policies, Taiwan has designated April 28 - the "World Day for Safety and Health at Work" - as the "National Occupational Safety and Health Week". The campaign aims to remind businesses, workers, and the public of the importance of maintaining occupational safety and health and workers’ physical and mental well-being. It also encourages businesses to create a friendly work environment and work together to improve overall occupational safety and health standards in Taiwan.

Minister Hsu Ming-Chun expressed during the launch ceremony that the Ministry of Labor has vigorously fostered a sustainable and high-quality work environment in recent years. By consolidating resources from different sectors to promote and enhance occupational accident mitigation measures, the occupational accident compensation rate per 1,000 workers was decreased to a historic low of 2.222 in 2023. Moreover, the occupational healthcare coverage rate was increased by 72%. However, the swift industrial transformation coupled with the development of digital technology and the green energy industry has increased the risk of occupational accidents. By aligning developed countries' occupational safety and health strategies with Taiwan’s national sustainable development goals, the "Strategy to Halve Taiwan’s Occupational Accidents by 2030" was launched this year, aiming to halve the fatalities from major occupational accidents by 2030. In particular, special attention has been given to the construction industry, which has the highest proportion of occupational accidents due to falls. By designating this year as the "Year of Fall Prevention in Construction", the aim is to rally collective efforts to lower the occupational accident rate.

To allow workers to work with peace of mind and in safe conditions, the Ministry of Labor has strived to engage in diverse promotions of occupational safety and health in recent years. Following the official launch of the "National Occupational Safety and Health Week", the Ministry has urged government departments to combat occupational accidents and expand labor protection. The Ministry of Labor will also collaborate with local governments, public and private sectors, and relevant labor unions to kick off a series of activities across various regions during the Health Week. The joint efforts aim to foster a collective understanding of occupational accident prevention and health protection, thereby enhancing the quality of the safety culture and effectively minimizing occupational accidents.

Additionally, creating a safe and healthy workplace cannot rely solely on government support, as corporate sustainability also requires the support of a safe and healthy workforce. Building on the annual Health Week, the Center for Occupational Accident Prevention and Rehabilitation (COAPRE), established with donations and support from the Ministry of Labor, is planning to host the second "Caring for Occupational Accident Workers and Their Families Carnival" in Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Taipei. This event aims to increase public awareness of occupational accident prevention knowledge and skills by paying attention to the needs and well-being of occupational accident workers and their families in a joyful atmosphere. The initiative seeks to encourage businesses to build a positive, happy, and dynamic work environment.