No fewer than 1,000 representatives from 100 workers unions in Taiwan took to the streets in downtown Taipei on International Workers’ Day, demanding that a workers’ rights law be amended.

Waving banners and shouting slogans, demonstrators marched for hours in the capital on Wednesday, calling for the law to be revised to include higher wages, better work conditions and pension packages.

“Prices have been soaring, but wages have not,” said Chiang Chien-hsing, head of the Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions.

“We don’t want to see Taiwan remaining a country with low wages.  This is an island where people are overworked.

“Our government should find ways to overcome difficulties,” the union leader added.

Demonstrators also expressed their hope that Vice President and President-elect Lai Ching-te, who is due to be inaugurated on May 20, will further improve the well-being of Taiwan’s workers in the next four years.

Taiwan’s ministry of labour said in a statement that when the new government is formed, the minstry will continue to maintain a positive attitude, listen to the demands of all parties, and maintain open communication channels.

(dpa/NAN)