However, a closer look reveals the stringent requirement that applications must have household registration in Taipei City, leaving many commuters from New Taipei City and Keelung unable to access these benefits. First, the most dangerous aspect of this kind of policy is its irreversibility and malign spillover effects. Once Taipei City fires the first shot, other local administrations would appear backward if they fail to follow suit. When an employee leaves work an hour early, their workload does not magically disappear — it is shifted onto their colleagues. The city government might subsidize wages, but can it compensate for the fractures in the workplace caused by perceived privilege?

Source: Taipei Times February 28, 2026 16:12 UTC