Hsu Ming-chun
許銘春
26 February 2018 – 20 May 2024
Su Tseng-chang
Chen Chien-jen
- Lin San-quei
Chen Ming-jen (Vice)
Shih Keh-her, Su Li-chiung (Deputy)
October 2016 – February 2018
Hsu Ming-chun (Chinese: 許銘春; pinyin: Xǔ Míngchūn; born 21 September 1965) is a Taiwanese politician who served as the Labor Minister of Taiwan from 2018 to 2024. She previously served as the deputy mayor of Kaohsiung City from 2016 to 2018.
Education
Hsu obtained her bachelor's degree in law from National Taiwan University in 1987.[2] She passed her bar examination soon afterwards within the same year.[3]
Early career
In 1990, she opened her law firm in southern Taiwan. In 2006, she became the lawyer for Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu to fight against a lawsuit filed by Chu's opponent claiming that her Kaohsiung mayoralty election in December 2006 was invalid.[3]
Political career
Hsu was the Director of Information Department of Kaohsiung City Government in 2008-2009 and the Director-General of Legal Affairs Bureau of the city government in 2009–2013.[2] In October 2016, Hsu was appointed as the Deputy Mayor of Kaohsiung and served the position until February 2018.[4]
Ministry of Labor
On 26 February 2018, Hsu was appointed to be the Minister of Labor in a handover ceremony from her predecessor Lin Mei-chu who had tendered her resignation earlier on citing health issues. The ceremony was witnessed by Minister without Portfolio Lin Wan-i. Upon her appointment, she vowed to fully implement the labor law and protect the rights of workers.[5]
On 16 February 2024, India and Taiwan signed a memorandum which sought Indian workers to address labor shortages in Taiwan. On February 29, during a radio interview, Hsu stated that the ministry would hire workers from Northeast India due to "their skin color and dietary habits are closer" to the Taiwanese and that they are "mostly Christians who are adept at manufacturing, construction, and farming." Her comments resulted in backlash in India and Taiwan. Democratic Progressive Party legislator Chen Kuan-ting condemned her remarks, stating that that "skin color and race should not be criteria for recruiting migrant workers." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan issued an apology for the "not entirely appropriate" narratives by Taiwan's government agencies, while the Labor ministry also apologized for the "inaccurate choice of words" by Hsu. During legislative hearing on 5 March, Hsu apologized for her remarks and stated the Taiwan's labor policies are "crafted with equality in mind and are never discriminating."[6]
References
- ^ "Kaohsiung City Government". Directory of Taiwan. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Minister Hsu, Ming-Chun". Ministry of Labor Republic of China (Taiwan). 26 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ a b Liao, George (25 February 2018). "What you should know about Taiwan's new minister of labor". Taiwan News. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Liao, George (25 February 2018). "What you should know about Taiwan's new minister of labor". Taiwan News. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ Yu, Hsiao-han; Kao, Evelyn (26 February 2018). "New labor minister vows to fulfill labor law, protect workers' rights". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ Lin, Sean (5 March 2024). "Labor minister apologizes for comments on Indian migrant workers". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
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Culture | Li Yuan; Deputy: Lee Ching-hwi, Sue Wang; Vice: Lee Lien-chuan |
Digital Affairs | Huang Yen-nun; Political Deputy: Chiueh Herming, Lee Huai-jen; Administrative Deputy: Yeh Ning |
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Education | Cheng Ying-yao; Political Deputy: Lio Mon-chi, Lin Ming-yu; Administrative Deputy: Lin Teng-chiao |
Environment | Peng Chi-ming; Deputy: |
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Foreign Affairs | |
Health and Welfare | Chiu Tai-yuan; Deputy: Wang Pi-sheng, Lee Li-feng; Vice: Shih Chung-liang |
Interior | Liu Shyh-fang; Deputy: Hua Ching-chun, Wu Jung-hui; Vice: Wu Tang-an |
Justice | |
Labor | |
National Defense | Wellington Koo; Vice: Chang Guan-chung |
Transportation and Communications | |
Ministers without Portfolio |
Central Election | |
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Financial Supervisory | Peng Jin-lung; Vice: Chang Chuang-chang |
Fair Trade Commission | Lee May (李鎂); Vice: Chen Chih-min (陳志民) |
National Communications | Chen Yaw-shyang (陳耀祥); Vice: Wong Po-tsung (翁柏宗) |
Public Construction | Wu Tze-cheng; Deputy: Yan Jeou-rong, Yeh Jer-liang (葉哲良) |
Atomic Energy | Chang Ching-wen; Deputy: Lin Li-fu, Liu Wen-chung |
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Hakka Affairs | Yiong Con-ziin; Deputy: Chou Chiang-chieh |
Indigenous Peoples | Icyang Parod; Deputy: Calivat Gadu, Qucung Qalavangan, Afas Falah |
Mainland Affairs | Chiu Chui-cheng; Deputy: Liang Wen-chieh, Jan Jyh-horng, Lee Li-jane |
National Development | Liu Chin-ching; Deputy: Kao Shien-quey, Li-Pei Peng, Jan Fang-Guan |
Ocean Affairs | Kuan Bi-ling; Deputy: Chou Mei-wu, Hong Wen-ling, Wu Mei-hung |
Overseas Community Affairs | Hsu Chia-ching; Deputy: Ruan Jhao-syong; Vice: Roy Leu |
Science and Technology | Wu Cheng-wen; Deputy: Chern Yi-Juang, Lin Minn-tsong, Chen Tzong-chyuan |
Veterans Affairs | Feng Shih-kuan; Deputy: Lee Wen-chung |
Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics | |
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Directorate-General of Personnel Administration | Su Chun-jung; Deputy: Hsu Hwai, Lee Ping-chou |
Central Bank | |
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National Palace Museum | Hsiao Tsung-huang; Deputy: Huang Yung-tai, Yu Pei-chin |