The Truth About the Taiwanese Company Where 6 Vietnamese Fired to Death

According to the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, a terrible fire broke out at a foreign worker dormitory of a factory belonging to Tich Ca Company in Taoyuan City (Taiwan) at around 2 a.m. on December 14, causing...6Vietnamese workers diedand 5 others were injured.

The scene of a factory fire in Taiwan that killed six Vietnamese workers on December 14. Photo: CNA.

Established in 1988, Tich Ca is a company specializing in the production of automotive insulation paper, fireproof and scratch-resistant films and paint-related products,... in Taoyuan City.

The Taipei Times quoted information from the Taoyuan Labor Inspection Office as saying that, in fact, Tich Ca Company had been punished many times for not complying with the city's labor safety standards.

Specifically, as of August 2017, Tich Ca Company was fined 30,000 TWD (equivalent to 1,000 USD) and temporarily suspended from operations until it improved safety measures to prevent workers from falling and getting injured.

In addition, the company was also fined 20,000 TWD (about 666 USD) for non-compliance with the Labor Standards Law after it was found not to pay overtime to workers as required by law.

In a related development, after the fire that killed six Vietnamese workers occurred, on the evening of December 14, Taiwan arrested Tich Ca Company Chairman Chen Hung-ju and factory director Hsieh Chao-yi on charges of manslaughter.

On December 15, Chairman Chen Hung-ju and Factory Director Hsieh Chao-yi were released on bail of US$33,342 each. The Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office said the two are currently banned from leaving Taiwan.

However, Taiwan News quoted Taiwanese officials as saying that these Vietnamese workers may not be eligible for labor insurance because the fire occurred outside working hours.

According to Kienthuc.net.vn