The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Thursday announced the final results of its investigation into allegations of workplace bullying, with three of the eight accused officials confirmed to have engaged in bullying, while seven officials were given punishment ranging from a minor demerit to a reprimand. However, the results aroused suspicion from the public and received criticism from opposition parties, questioning the credibility of the ministry’s investigation.
The results came out one day after the Ministry of Labor revealed the results of a new investigation into its Workforce Development Agency’s northern branch, where a worker surnamed Wu (吳) was found dead in an apparent suicide last month, which led to allegations that he had been bullied by former branch head Hsieh Yi-jung (謝宜容). The ministry’s first investigation concluded that Wu’s death was not linked to workplace bullying and that Hsieh’s management was “well-intentioned.” However, that conclusion sparked a public outcry and led to the resignation of then-minister of labor Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊).
Wu’s case inspired civil servants, from local to central government agencies, to report workplace bullying, so Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) ordered all central government agencies to look into the bullying reports within a month and re-evaluate their workplace bullying prevention and handling procedures.
The Ministry of Labor’s new investigation results were praised for showing that the government is willing to apologize and admit its mistakes, bringing justice to victims, albeit delayed. However, the results again brought criticism, as people did not understand why some behaviors were not considered bullying, and many suspected that as allegations of department heads’ impropriety were all deemed unsubstantiated, higher officials are shielding each other.
Local news media have reported claims of workplace bullying, including a leaked video of civil servants seemingly being forced to do push-ups and squats in a Long-Term Care Department office, with the head of the department accused of workplace bullying.
They also reported the former head of the Protective Services Department for allegedly making improper remarks such as “you must commit suicide to show your sincerity” to her subordinates.
Ministry of Health and Welfare Secretary-General Liu Yu-chuan (劉玉娟) and three department heads only received punishments ranging from a minor demerit to a reprimand for issues including “inappropriate remarks” and failure to prevent workplace bullying. When asked why “push-ups and squats” were not considered bullying, ministry Deputy Minister Lue Jen-der (呂建德) said the department head only “encouraged” them to do exercises, but did not “force” them.
Minister Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) on Friday defended the results of the investigation, saying they were conducted with high standards by specialists and included dozens of in-depth interviews, and that the ministry would not reinvestigate.
However, the ministry’s explanation did not convince the public or opposition parties. New Power Party Chairwoman Claire Wang (王婉諭) called it “unimaginably corrupted and muddle-headed,” Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Chen Gau-tzu (陳昭姿) described the result as “covering the truth,” and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers asked whether the ministry accepts corporal punishment and why it did not publicize the results of its report.
With the Ministry of Health and Welfare due to report the results of its investigation today, it should learn from the labor ministry’s lesson and be humble in addressing public doubts, rather than directly denying them and stressing that its investigation was conducted professionally, while being unwilling to explain it in detail. The government needs to show sincerity by being open and transparent about its investigations to guarantee civil servants have a safe work environment, and be patient with its explanation to win back the public’s trust.
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