Re-Employment of Senior Workers: Labor Occupational Accident Insurance Is Essential
As the population ages, an increasing number of workers are choosing to return to the workforce after retirement, contributing their workplace experience and expertise. The Bureau of Labor Insurance (BLI) reminds employers that workers over the age of 65 or those who are already receiving labor insurance old-age benefits must still be insured under the labor occupational accident insurance when re-employed, to ensure that senior workers’ insurance rights are protected.
The BLI explains that under the provisions of the Labor Occupational Accident Insurance and Protection Act, any worker over the age of 15 who is employed by a registered entity (such as those with a professional license, legally registered, or with a tax registration) is required to be insured under labor occupational accident insurance. Regardless of whether the worker is over 65 years old or already receiving labor insurance old-age benefits, employers must enroll their employees in the labor occupational accident insurance on the first day of employment. If an employer fails to apply for insurance in accordance with regulations, and this is confirmed through investigation, they will be fined between NT$20,000 and NT$100,000, with the reasons for the violation being publicly announced.
Whether workers over the age of 65 can participate in labor insurance depends on whether they have already received labor insurance old-age benefits and if they have previously participated in labor insurance. The BLI further explains that workers over the age of 65 who have participated in labor insurance but have not yet received labor insurance old-age benefits may continue to participate in labor insurance if re-employed. However, workers who have already received labor insurance old-age benefits or who have no prior record of labor insurance participation before turning 65 are, as per regulations, not eligible to enroll in labor insurance when re-employed.
The BLI urges employers not only to ensure that senior workers are enrolled in labor occupational accident insurance on their first day of work, as required by law, but also to enroll those who meet the aforementioned conditions for labor insurance, thereby ensuring their safety and security in the workplace and creating an age-friendly working environment.