Cargreen

• By Fion Khan / Staff Writer, at CNA

The Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office reportedly said today that it is investigating the crime and named Labor Ministry Director Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容), the director of the Workforce Development Agency, as a defendant , who allegedly engaged in workplace bullying resulting in the death of an employee.

Labor Minister Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) verbally resigned today, Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said.

Hsieh was fired yesterday after receiving two major demerits during a performance review.

Photo: Liu Hsin-te, Taipei Times

Protesters gathered this morning at the Ministry of Labor with a black cloth in hand and said: “anti-bullying, we want the truth.”

Professor Hu Po-yen (胡博硯) from Soochow University School of Law called for a thorough investigation to provide justice for workers, as all eyes are on how the ministry responsible for labor rights handles harassment targeting the own workplace.

New Power Party Chairman Claire Wang (王婉諭) labeled the ministry’s investigation report as “illogical” and “absurd” and said the ministry is unable to investigate its own problems.

Wang called for the establishment of a workplace bullying prevention mechanism as current measures and regulations are not sufficient.

Wang added that Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) should organize an investigation group including third-party professionals to investigate not only Hsieh, but also all relevant senior officials, including Ho and Deputy Labor Minister Hsu Chuan Sheng. (許傳盛).

She said those who left the congregation because they were bullied should also be interviewed to get a full picture of the event.

Later yesterday, Hsieh issued a public apology in which she admitted responsibility for “poor emotional control” and “excessive requests” that caused “significant stress” among colleagues.

While Hsieh denied that her “leadership style” had anything to do with Wu’s death, she also apologized to Wu’s family and others affected by her “inability to provide timely support.”

She also released a 3,000-word statement through her lawyer, accusing media reports of treating her unfairly as if she had been placed in a “public trial.”

A worker named Wu (吳) was found dead at Executive Yuan’s Sinjhuang Coworking Office Building on November 4. Preliminary investigation revealed that the cause of death was suicide, which is said to have occurred after Hsieh’s bullying.

Additional reporting by Li Ching-hui and Wang Ting-chuan