AEC Minister Accused of Sexual Harassment 週刊報導原能會主委 疑涉職場霸凌.性騷

The latest issue of Mirror Media reported that Atomic Energy Council Minister Hsieh Shou-shing, who is also an associate professor, took his female secretary to a coffee shop to teach classes via video. The report also quoted colleagues as saying Hsieh has a preference for young, tall, and long-haired women as his secretary and is suspected of sexual harassment.

Premier Su Tseng-chang went to the legislature to give a budget report. TPP Legislator Chiu Chen-yuan instead asked him about a media report saying Atomic Energy Council Minister Hsieh Shou-shing has four secretaries and sets gender and height requirements when hiring secretaries. Female subordinates have also accused him of harassing them physically and verbally. Su said Hsieh is on leave and vowed to uphold gender equity.

Su Tseng-chang, Premier: “The relevant responsibilities of government functionaries or employees are extremely clear. We will follow regulations in handling it. ”
Chiu Chen-yuan, Legislator (TPP): “Including ensuring gender equity and friendly workplace cultures? You need to help us defend those, okay? ”
Su Tseng-chang, Premier: “Of course.”

DPP legislators Fan Yun and Lai Pin-yu issued a joint declaration urging the Executive Yuan to take the initiative and investigate the accusations of sexual harassment and workplace bullying against Hsieh to protect the rights of victims. They also said they think the government should use higher standards to determine if workplaces are gender-friendly. Women's groups say the perpetrator is the AEC's top official, and therefore higher authorities should be the ones investigating.

Chen Hsiu-feng, Chair, Nat'l Alliance of Taiwan Women's Associations: “The Gender Equity Education Act clearly stipulates that it's better for higher authorities to investigate in a situation like this one because you can't expect an implicated person to investigate his or her own behavior.”

“Your call is being forwarded to voice mail.”Reporters got no response when calling Hsieh's number. The AEC released a statement on Hsieh's behalf in which he clarified five points, including that he didn't constantly change secretaries and that he went to a coffee shop to give lessons via video because he wouldn't use his workplace.

He also said that if his behavior towards his colleagues is inappropriate, then he will make improvements. He also thanked the media for their supervision.

上午行政院長蘇貞昌，前往立法院報告總預算與前瞻建設特別預算案。不過民眾黨立委邱臣遠指出，有媒體披露原能會主委謝曉星有4位秘書，挑秘書還指定性別身高，也遭指控對女下屬有肢體碰觸跟言語騷擾。蘇院長表示，謝主委上午請假未出席，但他允諾要保障性別平權。

行政院長蘇貞昌表示：「公務員或政府官員相關責任也都清清楚楚，我們會依規範進行。」

民眾黨立委邱臣遠也說：「包含要保障我們兩性平權，還有相關職場的一個友善職場文化。」，對此，蘇貞昌回應「當然」。

而民進黨立委范雲與賴品妤也發出聯合聲明指出，謝主委疑似涉及性騷與職場霸凌案，他為原能會最高首長，呼籲行政院主動調查，維護被害人權益，並認為政府應以高標準檢視性別職場友善。婦女團體也認為涉案為原能會最高首長，應由上級機關來調查。

台灣婦女團體全國聯合會理事長陳秀峯呼籲：「《性別平等教育法》它有明白這樣規定，如果比照這樣的一個精神的話，就是上級機關來調查會比較好一點，因為不可能期待行為人自己調查自己的事情。」

記者上午致電主委謝曉星無人回應。對於指控內容，他透過原能會發出聲明，嚴正澄清5點，包括自己沒有一直換秘書，也強調他不用公務場所進行教學，才到咖啡廳去視訊授課，而如果與同仁互動不適宜之處，他會調整改進，最後一點感謝媒體督促指教。