[Taiwan High-Tech Working Hours]
韓國想追上台灣？從工時戰看見高科技業的光與影
- 前半段為文章的英文版本 (The first half is the English version)
- 後半段為中文版本 (The second half is the Mandarin version)
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The Path to Success: A Double-Edged Sword of Taiwan High-Tech Working Hours
In recent years, voices from South Korean media and the tech industry have frequently echoed a striking claim: “We can’t surpass Taiwan because our working hours are shorter.” While this assertion has sparked debate, it also points to a harsh yet undeniable truth — the rise of Taiwan’s high-tech industry has been built on the relentless dedication and sacrifice of generations of engineers and technical professionals.
According to a report by The Korea Herald, the South Korean government and industry leaders have openly debated whether to loosen the country’s 52-hour workweek regulation to allow chip giants like Samsung and SK hynix greater flexibility in competing with international rivals such as TSMC. The report explicitly noted that many in South Korea’s tech community believe current labor restrictions have placed the nation at a competitive disadvantage — especially when compared to Taiwan’s more labor-intensive counterparts. The article even highlighted that TSMC engineers reportedly work 12-hour days, regardless of weekdays or holidays. This intensity has become a symbolic example of the competitiveness gap emphasized in South Korean discourse.
Taiwan’s Global and Regional Standing in Work Hours
According to data from Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor and international organizations such as the OECD and Our World in Data, Taiwan’s average annual working hours consistently hover around 2,000 hours, placing it among the highest globally. Here is a comparison of recent figures:
| Country/Region | Avg. Annual Work Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 2,120 hours | Among the world’s highest |
| Taiwan | 2,000 hours | Among Asia’s highest |
| South Korea | 1,910 hours | Enforces 52-hour workweek |
| Singapore | 1,950 hours | Similar to Taiwan |
| Japan | 1,650 hours | Reform in progress |
| Germany | 1,350 hours | Emphasizes work-life balance |
Compared to countries like Germany, Japan, and the U.S., Taiwanese workers clearly put in significantly more hours. And these numbers only reflect the average. A closer look at the internal culture of Taiwan’s high-tech companies would reveal that actual hours can be even longer, especially during peak project cycles.
The Culture of Overtime Behind Global Tech Giants
Taiwan’s high-tech ascendancy is no accident. Giants like TSMC, MediaTek, and Foxconn have all thrived on a corporate culture marked by discipline, high pressure, and long working hours.
TSMC: A World Leader Built on Engineers’ Shoulders
TSMC is globally renowned for its advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes. But it is also often criticized for its demanding work culture. Fab facilities operate 24/7, with many engineers taking night shifts, weekend duty, and rotating schedules. According to The Korea Herald, TSMC engineers reportedly work 12-hour shifts daily, without distinction between weekdays and holidays. This is seen as emblematic of the company’s deep-rooted culture of intensity and execution.
Such commitment ensures high yield rates and timely delivery, making TSMC a trusted partner to global clients. But it comes at a cost: many engineers experience burnout early in their careers, and turnover remains a concern.
MediaTek: Racing Against Time
MediaTek’s IC design teams work under intense time pressure. Late-night meetings and debugging sessions are commonplace. Without the constraints of a production line, the pressure comes from global competition and time-to-market urgency. The physical and mental toll on engineers is substantial.
Foxconn: Speed and Scale at Every Level
Foxconn’s labor issues in its Chinese factories have drawn international scrutiny. But even in Taiwan headquarters, senior managers, R&D teams, and procurement departments often work weekends or overnight to meet deadlines. This culture has enabled Foxconn to serve the world’s largest electronics brands, but it has also left employees mentally and physically exhausted.
A Culture of Commitment or a Cycle of Sacrifice?
There is no denying that Taiwan’s tech workforce displays remarkable dedication and resilience under pressure. Teamwork, accountability, and execution have given Taiwan its reputation as a dependable player in the global tech supply chain. For many firms, becoming a global leader has been made possible by the tenacity and endurance of Taiwanese engineers.
But the other side of this culture includes stories of overwork, burnout, and even suicide.
Behind the Shiny Facade: The Exhaustion of the Workforce
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have warned that working more than 55 hours per week significantly increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. In Taiwan’s tech industry, it is not uncommon for workers to exceed these thresholds.
Healthcare professionals in Taiwan have also observed recurring symptoms among tech industry employees:
- Insomnia, anxiety, and emotional disorders
- Stomach problems, headaches, and autonomic nervous imbalance
- Loss of interest in life and social withdrawal
There have also been reports of engineers collapsing late at night or suffering breakdowns due to relentless project pressure. While not every case can be directly linked to overwork, these incidents raise serious concerns.
Between Glory and the Human Cost
There is no question that Taiwan’s high-tech sector is a national treasure, underpinning economic growth and global recognition. But its success is also built upon the personal sacrifices of its engineering workforce.
Now, with TSMC and other companies expanding their operations abroad, especially in the U.S., the pressing question is: Can Taiwan’s high-pressure, long-hours culture integrate with international norms? This will be a key challenge for companies seeking to globalize while maintaining their performance and values.
Balancing excellence and sustainability may be the next great leap Taiwan’s tech industry must take.
In the future, for Taiwan’s high-tech industry to truly succeed on the global stage, it must export not only technology and efficiency, but also a healthy, sustainable, and people-centered work culture. What do you think?
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[Further Reading]
👉 Taiwan High-Tech Work Culture: When an Earthquake Means Overtime in Hsinchu’s Technology Ecosystem
👉 Mixed reactions as Korea seeks to lift 52-hour work limit for chipmakers
👉 TSMC Employee reviews about “long working hours”
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Taiwan High-Tech Working Hours: 從工時戰看見高科技業的光與影
近年來，韓國媒體與科技業內部不時傳出一種聲音：「我們無法超越台灣，是因為我們的工時比台灣短。」這樣的說法引起不小爭議，卻也在某種程度上，點出了一個殘酷但真實的事實 —— 台灣高科技產業的崛起，背後是一整代工程師與技術人員的燃燒與拚搏。
根據《The Korea Herald》的一篇報導指出，韓國政府與產業界曾公開討論是否應該放寬週 52 工時限制，以讓三星與 SK hynix 等半導體大廠能夠更具彈性地面對與台積電等國際對手的激烈競爭。報導中明確提及，韓國業界內部認為現行的工時限制已讓本國高科技產業在競爭上落於下風，尤其是相較於台灣這類強調高投入的對手。該報導更指出，台積電的工程師每天工作長達 12 小時，且不分週間或假日，這樣的工作強度也成為韓國媒體強調競爭力差距的重要象徵。
👉 原文來源：The Korea Herald
台灣工時在全球與亞洲的排名
根據我國勞動部及國際資料（如 OECD、Our World in Data）顯示，台灣平均每年工時約為 2,000 小時上下，長年居於全球前段班。以下為近年部分國家年平均工時參考：
| 國家/地區 | 年平均工時（約） | 備註 |
|---|---|---|
| 墨西哥 | 2,120 小時 | 世界最高之一 |
| 台灣 | 2,000 小時 | 亞洲前段班 |
| 南韓 | 1,910 小時 | 已實施週52工時制度 |
| 新加坡 | 1,950 小時 | 與台灣相近 |
| 日本 | 1,650 小時 | 工時改革見效 |
| 德國 | 1,350 小時 | 重視生活品質與效率 |
與歐洲、美國、日本等已開發國家相比，台灣勞工明顯在工時上投入更多。而在高科技產業中，這樣的現象更為明顯。而且上述的數字只是平均，如果有機會實地去了解台灣許多電子業高科技公司的生態，會知道實際的工時數字會更高。
世界級科技龍頭公司背後的加班文化
台灣的高科技業之所以能夠站上世界舞台，無論是晶圓代工的龍頭 台積電，手機晶片設計巨擘 聯發科，或是全球最大電子代工廠 鴻海（Foxconn），無一不是建立在嚴格、高壓與高工時的文化之上。
台積電：用工程師堆出來的世界第一
台積電以精密的製程技術聞名全球，但同時也以「血汗文化」為人詬病。Fab 廠全年無休，許多工程師需值夜班、假日班，甚至輪三班，週末回報進度幾乎是日常。高工時下所維持的良率與準時交貨，是其全球客戶最信賴的保證。
聯發科：為搶時機而拚命的工程節奏
聯發科的IC設計部門擁有極快的專案週期，加班開會、夜晚 debug 都是常態。雖無生產線壓力，但在國際競爭中必須「搶快、搶先、搶準」，工程師身心負荷極大。
鴻海：從工廠到總部都講究「拚」
鴻海的中國工廠曾因工人過勞而引發社會關注，但即使在台灣總部，高階主管、RD、採購部門也常見週末加班、通宵處理交期。這種文化，讓鴻海得以處理世界最大品牌的製造任務，但也讓員工時常身心俱疲。
拚搏文化：敬業還是犧牲？
不可否認，這種高工時文化，反映出台灣科技人極高的敬業精神與抗壓能力。許多工程師以完成任務為職志，團隊合作緊密、責任感強，也因此促成了台灣在全球科技供應鏈中「可靠且準時」的名聲。台灣許多企業之所以能夠站穩市場，甚至成為全球第一，一部分歸功於台灣工程師在高壓下的堅忍和拼搏。
但另一面，這樣的文化也讓過勞、身心疾病、甚至自殺事件時有所聞。
當光鮮亮麗的產業背後，是疲憊不堪的工程師
世界衛生組織（WHO）與國際勞工組織（ILO）曾指出，每週工作超過 55 小時會顯著增加中風與心臟病死亡風險。而台灣高科技業的普遍工作時數早已超標。
醫界也指出，來自科技產業的患者常出現以下症狀：
- 失眠、焦慮、情緒障礙
- 胃痛、頭痛、自律神經失調
- 對生活失去興趣、人際疏離感增加
而社會上，也曾傳出工程師深夜猝死、因專案壓力導致心理崩潰的事件。雖然無法每件都證實與工時直接關聯，但這些現象早已敲響警鐘。
成就與代價之間，產業的下一步
台灣的高科技業無疑是國家的驕傲，也支撐了無數家庭與經濟成長。但在這榮光背後，是一代代技術人員與工程師用健康、時間與情感換來的成果。
而如今隨著台積電的腳步，有越來越多的台灣高科技赴美或是其他地方投資和擴張，過去習以為常的高壓高工時的企業文化是否能夠融入當地社會，這將會是一個值得觀察的重點，也是台灣許多企業是否能進一步全球化的關鍵課題。
未來，台灣高科技產業若要成功走向國際，不只是技術與效率的輸出，更要輸出健康、永續與以人為本的工作文化。你認為呢？
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