LABOR GROUPS ON HUNGER STRIKE OVER LABOR LAW AMENDMENT|不滿修法砍7天假 勞團焚旗絕食抗議

The Democratic Progressive Party caucus will try to push through the second and third reading of the labor standards act's amendment. The "one rest day and one fixed day off" legislation will also cut 7 public holidays. Labor groups launched another hunger strike to protest. In response, the Presidential Office said that it hopes to pass the amendment as soon as possible, and as for different opinions, it will respect them. Labor groups stood in solidarity and recited their hunger strike manifesto. They burned banners with President Tsai Ing-wen's campaign slogans on them and protested the government's way of jamming the bill through. ==MAO CHEN-FEI, Taoyuan Confederation of Trade Unions advisor== Our bodies are our last resort to fight the government. If we storm the legislature, people may get hurt. That's why we are going on a hunger strike. We want to use our body to show that the government is wrong. ==KUO KUAN-CHUN, 2016 Alliance for Workers member== Since Oct, the DPP administration has been trying to forcefully cut 7 holidays. They sacrificed the rights and benefits of workers to serve the interest of corporations. Labor groups said that they have launched multiple protests, only to find that the DPP administration is taking even stronger measures to force the legislation through in favor of industries. That's why they decided to go on another hunger strike to show their determination. However, the Presidential Office is also determined to pass the bill. ==ALEX HUANG, Presidential Office spokesperson== We hope that public holidays can be consistent throughout the country. This is the president's promise to society before her election to office. The executive department will work with the legislature to complete the legislation process as soon as possible. The Presidential Office said that Taiwan is a democratic country. Therefore, the government will respect different opinions and strengthen its communication with the public regarding policy issues. Seven labor group representatives announced that they are going on a hunger strike until the legislature stop trying to cut the 7 public holidays. TRANSLATED BY：CHRISTINA LIU 民進黨立院黨團近期將會在院會進行勞基法修法一例一休的二、三讀，勞工團體下午再次發起絕食抗議，不過總統府回應表示希望能盡速完成修法，也尊重各團體表達意見的方式，但希望勞團要保重身體。 勞團成員一字排開，朗誦絕食宣言，在立法院前燒毀蔡英文競選口號布條，他們不滿民進黨將強行讓一例一休及砍七天假，在立法院交付二、三讀，再次進行絕食抗議。 ==桃園市產業總工會顧問 毛振飛== 我們只剩下身體可以對抗 像我們衝進去(立院) 有多少人受傷 也不可能每個人都衝進去 所以我們現在絕食 是用我們自己的身體 讓社會大眾可以看的到 這個政府這樣做法是不合理的 ==2016工鬥連線成員 郭冠均== 10月份以來 民進黨的種種作為 就是強硬地要把 勞工的這七天假砍掉 然後把勞工這七天假的權益 完全送給資方團體 勞團感嘆，這陣子為了捍衛勞工七天國定假，發動了無數次的抗爭，但竟換來民進黨使出更強硬的手段，動用更多資源要強行通過修法，向資方靠攏，二度絕食就是要展現捍衛勞工權益的決心，不過總統府也再度宣示修法決心。 ==總統府發言人 黃重諺== 讓國定假日的實施能夠 回歸到紀念日及節日實施辦法 讓全國可以一致 這是總統在選前對社會的承諾 也希望說這次透過行政部門 跟立法部門的合作 能盡速讓相關立法可以完成 總統府表示，台灣是民主國家，尊重各種議題的討論及不同看法，也會強化各項政策的推動及社會溝通，而7名勞團代表，將從今天開始無限期絕食，直到立法院停止砍七天假為止。 記者 朱芷儀 郭俊麟 台北報導