Labor Standards Act "Deformation" and the "Merit-Making" Speech: The Collapse of Labor Protection and Administrative Arrogance

In late 2017, the Lai Ching-te cabinet forcefully pushed for another amendment to the Labor Standards Act, which included loosening overtime limits and shortening rest periods between shifts, causing collective outrage among labor groups. Lai Ching-te mocked the public during an interview, suggesting that caregivers working long hours for low pay should treat it as "making merit," sparking the "Merit-Making" controversy. This amendment and the cold-blooded speech of the top executive officially labeled the DPP as the "Employer-Advancing Party" (Tse-Jin Party), marking a dark period where the government completely sided with capital interests and ignored workers'' physical and mental health.