Taiwan Styrene Monomer Corporation's Lin Yuan Plant Shutdown Impacts Over 160 Workers; Ko Chih-en Proposes Four Demands to Uphold 'Not One Left Behind'

In response to Taiwan Styrene Monomer Corporation's (TSMC) announcement of ceasing operations at its Lin Yuan plant in Kaohsiung starting October 1, which is expected to impact over 160 frontline workers, Kuomintang Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en expressed grave concern on the 27th and unveiled a 'Four-Point Demand and Action Plan.' She called on the company to fulfill its social responsibilities and urged the city government to proactively intervene, emphasizing that industrial transformation must not come at the expense of workers' rights—'not one should be left behind.'

Ko stated that she had already consulted with union representatives to understand the situation. She pointed out that this is not the first time Kaohsiung's traditional chemical industry has faced such a transition shock—just six months ago, Hsin-Chang Chemical experienced a similar incident—highlighting the structural challenges confronting Kaohsiung's industries. Ko stressed that Kaohsiung's economic development should not overly rely on a few high-tech sectors, and that job security, wages, and employment protection for traditional industry workers must also be prioritized in city policy. She also plans to hold face-to-face forums with chemical industry workers to directly hear grassroots voices.

Ko noted that TSMC has already recovered approximately NT$1.9 billion through asset disposal, giving it the capacity to invest in semiconductor specialty chemicals and green energy transformation. However, she emphasized that while pursuing transformation and profitability, companies should not shift the burden and risks onto long-serving employees and their families. She therefore urged the company to provide more comprehensive placement measures.

Regarding worker placement, Ko proposed four concrete initiatives. First, she called on TSMC to go beyond legally mandated severance pay and provide additional living allowances or retirement security for middle-aged and older workers with longer tenure who face greater difficulty in reemployment, thereby reducing the impact of job transitions.

Second, she advocated for a 'plant transformation with internal reemployment' mechanism. As TSMC plans to develop new ventures in energy trading, asset management, and renewable energy, it should prioritize internal training programs to help willing employees acquire new skills and smoothly transition into new departments. Ko also stated that, if elected mayor, she would explore policy and tax incentives to encourage companies to fulfill their social responsibilities.

Third, Ko proposed that the city government integrate resources from the Labor Bureau and Economic Development Bureau to establish a 'Petrochemical Transition Talent Matching Zone' in Lin Yuan. This zone would connect with high-value petrochemical and semiconductor specialty chemical industries, offering customized recruitment and job-matching services to help workers with expertise in chemical engineering, equipment maintenance, and industrial safety transition smoothly into new roles.

Fourth, invoking the principle of just transition under the Climate Change Response Act, Ko urged the central government to allocate funds from greenhouse gas management programs to the Kaohsiung Labor Rights Fund. A dedicated 'Just Transition Account for Petrochemical and High-Carbon Industries' would be established to support affected workers with living subsidies, children's education, psychological counseling, and green job retraining, creating a comprehensive support system for industrial transition.

Ko emphasized that Kaohsiung bears a significant national responsibility in petrochemical development and also shoulders the brunt of net-zero transition impacts. Therefore, a robust labor safety net is urgently needed. She called on the city government to re-examine its industrial policies to balance industrial upgrading with worker protection, and pledged to support workers through the transition with concrete policies, positioning herself as the strongest ally for Kaohsiung's workforce.