16 March 2026. We are proud to announce the launch of the Taiwan Project for Business and Human Rights, a dedicated platform for research and advocacy resources on business and human rights specifically for Taiwan. The Taiwan Project is the result of a partnership between us, Work Better Innovations, and the Global Supply Chains and Human Rights Research Group, led by Associate Professor Yu-Fan Chiu at the School of Law, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. We believe that Taiwan’s businesses are capable of acting responsibly and rising to today’s global challenges.
A Collaboration Grounded in Research and Education
The Taiwan Project is a collaboration grounded in research and education, aimed at Taiwan and for Taiwan. The primary language for the Taiwan Project is in Traditional Chinese.
Over the years, our Executive Director, Dr Bonny Ling, and Prof Chiu have jointly taught a graduate course on business and human rights in Taiwan, and the Taiwan Project platform grows out of their commitment to continue to producing accurate, authoritative research and education that supports and promotes the implementation of the UNGPs in Taiwan.
Why Taiwan, Why Now?
Taiwan sits at the centre of global supply chains, from semiconductors to textiles, electronics to fisheries. As international expectations around corporate due diligence and responsible business conduct continue to grow, Taiwanese businesses are increasingly called upon for its forced labour risks and to demonstrate accountability.
There are five core themes that we address:
- Forced Labour
- Grievance Mechanisms
- Corporate Accountability
- Responsible Recruitment
- Sustainable Development
In addition, the Taiwan Project documents and share insights into local litigation on business accountability, particularly the ongoing You-Fu civil case (《銪富號》民事訴訟) . It is Taiwan’s first legal challenge on the exclusion of migrant fishery workers hired outside of Taiwan from the scope of Taiwan’s Labour Standards Act, which is Taiwan’s basic framework on labour protections for anyone employed in Taiwan, regardless of nationality. The third court hearing of the You-Fu case is scheduled for 31 March 2026, and we will continue to share the case update on the Taiwan Project website.
The Taiwan Project is a milestone in our long-standing commitment to the business and human rights in Taiwan. As the landscape of this topic is changing rapidly, we are excited to contribute to the accurate and authoritative resources, and we welcome collaboration with people across sectors.
