For the first time, the Council of Labor Affairs is proposing to enforce heavier punishments for employers who are found responsible for overworking their employees to death.

To avoid similar events from happening, Minister Jennifer Wang said that those who are held accountable for related incidents may face hefty monetary penalties or even criminal charges.

Mr. Hsu was an engineer at Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, and allegedly died from overwork.

His father was so saddened and asked the government to impose criminal liability on the employers, just like the way Japan and South Korea do.

Council for Labor Affairs minister Jennifer Wang said for the first time that the council is planning such punishment.

But she stressed that she would prefer to administrative fine for excessive hours of work, as this punishment could be quickly carried out.

The law amendment is under way to raise the administrative fines and to publish the list of unlawful companies.

A series of recent death from overwork in labor workers has prompted labor groups to urge President Ma to raise the issue to national security level.

While international labor groups approve of the government's intention to impose criminal liability on employers, they want the Council of Labor Affairs to acknowledge that Taiwanese labor workers have been in the state of overwork for too long.

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