The Ministry of Transportation and Communications recently ordered two drivers should be on duty on all Taiwan Railways tilting trains. However, the Taiwan Railways Administration has been suffering from a manpower shortage for years, and many are wondering where the extra manpower will come from. The TRA says it will ask all drivers that took early retirement before the age of 60 in the past three years whether they can come back to work.


The Ministry of Transportation and Communications responded to the Puyuma Express derailment by temporarily ordering two drivers on all Taiwan Railways tilting trains. This equates to additional demand of 57 and 62 drivers, respectively, on weekdays and weekends. Many find this unfeasible, as Taiwan Railways has famously had a manpower shortage for years. Premier William Lai says the TRA should ask newly retired drivers to come back to work. As TRA drivers have to retire at 60, does this mean the age limit will be adjusted?

There are around 80 drivers who took early retirement, who meet the age limit and other qualifications.

Taiwan Railways says it will see if there are any retired drivers that meet the age requirement that can return to work. It will also see if any of its 228 driver trainees that have completed over half of the training program can help out as assistant drivers. Due to its manpower shortage, Taiwan Railways is frequently being accused of overwork. Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun recently told lawmakers Taiwan Railways had a labor violation rate of close to 3 percent in the first nine months of this year.

This year alone -- between January and September this year, we conducted 60 inspections on Taiwan Railways and found 18 violations. Do you find this ratio low or high? (30 percent.)

The Taiwan Railway Union says Taiwan Railways uses a three-shift schedule and nothing has been done to resolve the overwork problem for years. Hsu says the shift schedule is legal but unreasonable, and the ministry has already asked Taiwan Railways to reevaluate and address the issues at an appropriate time.