The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Taiwan-OSHA) of the Ministry of Labor and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) held the 4th Taiwan–EU Occupational Safety and Health Cooperation Meeting on July 14, 2025. The meeting was opened by Minister Sun-Han HUNG of the Ministry of Labor. The meeting was jointly led by William COCKBURN (Executive Director of EU-OSHA), Charlotte GREVFORS ERNOULT (Head of Health and Safety at Work Unit, DG EMPL), Tzu-Lien TZOU (Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Labor), and Yu-Tang LIN (Director General of Taiwan-OSHA, Ministry of Labor). Delegations from their respective organizations also took part in the discussions. The meeting also welcomed Chairperson Hou-Cheng WANG of the Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Labor, as well as representatives from the industry.
In Minister Sun-Han HUNG’s remarks, he stated that the Ministry of Labor is currently promoting amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, focusing on two main areas. The first addresses the issue of workplace bullying, which has drawn significant public attention. The goal is to establish clear definitions and procedural guidelines to ensure a safer and more respectful working environment for workers. The second aims to reduce the risk of occupational accidents by actively referring to practices adopted by leading countries, including the use of technology to support hazard prevention and safety monitoring in workplaces.
The meeting focused on three main topics: “Digitalization in the Workplace,” “Psychosocial Risks at Work and Workers’ Mental Health,” and “Work-Related Cardiovascular Diseases.”
Taiwan-OSHA presented reports on “Digital Technology for Occupational Accident Prevention and Reduction in Taiwan: Current Status and Future Trends,” including case studies from the construction and manufacturing industries, applications of generative AI in OSH, “Taiwan's Strategy on Workplace Bullying Prevention,” highlighting key points from the proposed amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act and related supporting measures, and “Work-Related Cardiovascular Diseases,” covering criteria for occupational attribution, mechanisms for case support, and the current status of occupational injury insurance benefits. EU-OSHA shared insights on a human-centered approach to integrating technology — encompassing preventive design, risk assessment, OSH policy, training enhancement, and participation mechanisms. The agency also introduced the priority themes of the upcoming Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2026–2028 and shared perspectives on identifying and assessing cardiovascular disease risk factors and formulating prevention strategies.
During the discussion, the EU-OSHA shared successful case studies from companies in Sweden and Italy that have implemented AI technologies. Key success factors included engaging in dialogue with labor unions in advance, involving employees in the data collection and survey design processes, and ensuring that AI applications are supported by regulations—such as those protecting privacy, ensuring appropriate use, and enforcing relevant penalties. Participants also emphasized the importance of conducting psychosocial risk assessments directly in the workplace to help employees recognize inappropriate behavior and foster awareness to reject it. However, digital harassment—such as via emails and digital messaging—was noted as often overlooked despite its potential psychological harm and should therefore be included in risk evaluations. Furthermore, it was recommended that the management of psychological and physical health risks be integrated. System design should strengthen the integration of diverse sources, establish cross-level service coordination, and incorporate labor inspection intervention models.
Taiwan-OSHA noted that this was the first time the cooperation meeting was held in person. In addition to inviting EU-OSHA experts to Taiwan, industry professionals were also invited to share practical experiences. The exchange yielded fruitful results, with both sides engaging in in-depth discussions and sharing insights. Taiwan-OSHA expressed hope that this platform will continue to serve as a channel for learning from the EU’s latest strategies and research findings, supporting the development of future policies and systems in Taiwan, and further enhancing the overall standard of occupational safety and health.