The Prospective Candidates and Candidates of An Election Should Enroll the Workers Employed for the campaigns in the Employment Insurance and Labor Occupational Accident Insurance.
The election of local civil servants for ROC (Taiwan) will be held by the end of 2022. The registration for candidates was opened by the Central Election Commission (hereinafter referred to as “the CEC”) on August 29, 2022. The BLI reminded the prospective candidates who have already established a dedicated account for political donation and the candidates who have already registered with the CEC that, to ensure the work and life safety of the workers and avoid penalty, they should enroll their employees in the employment insurance and labor occupational accident insurance (hereinafter referred to as “occupational accident insurance”).
According to the regulations, the prospective candidates or candidates for central or local civil servants elections shall be subject to the requirement of compulsory enrollment to the employment insurance and occupational accident insurance if they have employed workers for running an election or public office duties. They should enroll the workers on the first day of employment, failing which they will be subject to relevant penalties. Also, the prospective candidates or candidates may register as an insured unit under labor insurance on a voluntary basis, so that they can administer the labor insurance enrollment for those who are hired and paid for participating in the campaign activities. Volunteers with no salary income shall not be the applicable subjects of the above insurances.
With respect to the enrollment procedures, the prospective candidates or candidates should register as insured units, using the name “XXX in the Capacity as the Prospective Candidate (Candidate) for the County Magistrate (Mayor) of _____ County (City)” or “XXX in the Capacity as the Prospective Candidate (Candidate) for the Councilors of _____ County (City)”. To complete the enrollment procedures for their employees, they should fill out the insurance application form and insurance declaration form for labor (employment/occupational accident) insurance or employment (occupational accident) insurance accordingly; in the meantime attach a photocopy of the ID card (front and back side), a copy of the Control Yuan's “Letters of Approval to Open Accounts for Political Donations”, and the official letters or equivalent supporting documents evidencing the “Acceptance and Registration of Candidate” by the corresponding election commission.
If the applicant is an incumbent public official (for example, a councilor) running for reelection, he/she may enroll the employed campaign staff to the labor insurance, employment insurance and occupational accident insurance through the insured unit originally established. Once a worker is enrolled to the insurance, the coverage shall not be suspended unless it is for regulatory reasons. The prospective candidates and candidates should apply for withdrawal from the insurance on the day when an employee is separated from the job when the employment relationship is extinguished. The BLI will proactively terminate the coverage if such application has not been filed within ten days after the voting day.
The BLI calls for attention that canvassers are exposed to higher risks of occupational accidents, as they are frequently engaged in canvassing activities during the campaign period. To protect the rights and interests of the workers, the prospective candidates and candidates should ensure that the workers are insured on the first day of employment.