People Rush to Sign Up for Data Plan Offer on Last Day|499優惠最終日續塞爆 中華電稱不再延長

Another frenzy over frugality has occurred in Taiwan. This time it's to sign up for Chunghwa Telecom's Mother's Day special - a NT$499 unlimited data plan offer which ends on May 15. Very long lines have been seen at Chunghwa Telecom stores lately. Due to the interest, the telecom allows new applicants, those who have codes or are upgrading to 4G to apply online by May 15. In related news, Chunghwa Telecom has been fined by Taipei and Kaohsiung labor authorities for overworking their employees.


May 15 was the final day to take advantage of a Chunghwa Telecom NT$499 unlimited data plan offer for Mother's Day. Some people skipped work to apply. Others brought along their grandchildren and a stool, expecting a long wait.

When I came yesterday, my ticket number was in the 700s so I didn't get it done. Today, I thought I would come in the morning and bring along a stool so I would have somewhere to sit if there are no seats.

Many Chunghwa Telecom customers have been forced to wait in long lines to apply for the data plan. The company says customers who need to break their existing contracts and sign up for a new one need to complete the transaction in person at a store. It added it will not extend the offer period, but it will complete all applications before the stores close for the day. Meanwhile, the company also posted on its website that those who are applying for new data plans, have codes or are upgrading to 4G can apply online before May 15. If the transaction is successful, they have until May 31 to complete the process at a store.

We considered that customers may need time to get documents before they can go to stores to apply for codes or pick up SIM cards, so we are giving them time to do this.

Although the company has said it respects the rights and benefits of its workers, Taipei and Kaohsiung labor authorities have discovered labor violations during inspections. Taipei City's Department of Labor has fined Chunghwa Telecom and its subsidiary Honghwa International Corporation NT$1 million each for exceeding the allowed working period of 12 hours. Meanwhile, Kaohsiung City's Labor Affairs Bureau discovered there were incidents of employees working over 16 hours, and fined the company NT$1 million. Honghwa International Corporation was unable to provide information on labor hours, and may be subject to additional fines.