Taipei: The Control Yuan has passed a motion to impeach former Workforce Development Agency (WDA) head Tsai Meng-liang and former WDA New Taipei branch director Hsieh Yi-jung over allegations of workplace bullying, which allegedly led to a subordinate’s suicide.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Control Yuan, Taiwan’s top government watchdog, issued a statement on Thursday confirming the unanimous decision to impeach Hsieh on June 5. Hsieh is accused of engaging in workplace bullying and graft related to a government procurement case. Allegations against her include disclosing confidential information, providing undue benefits to a company, and accepting a gift box valued at NT$20,000 (US$674) purchased with the Ministry of Labor’s Employment Stabilization Fund.
The motion, reviewed by all 12 members of the Control Yuan, was passed unanimously. Hsieh has been indicted over alleged wrongdoing in connection with the procurement case, though prosecutors did not press charges related to workplace bullying, citing a lack of causality in the suicide of a former WDA employee surnamed Wu.
The impeachment motion, sponsored by Control Yuan members Wang Li-jen, Yeh Ta-hua, and Wang Mei-yu, highlighted Hsieh’s “poor control of her emotions” as evidence of workplace bullying. The motion described how Hsieh frequently scolded and insulted subordinates, leading many to seek transfers due to mental and physical health issues induced by work stress.
Moreover, the indictment connected Wu’s death to “immense work-related pressure,” attributed to Hsieh’s leadership style, which reportedly intimidated subordinates into silence. Simultaneously, the Control Yuan recommended Tsai’s impeachment for allegedly protecting Hsieh by endorsing her promotion and overlooking her management issues, as well as inflating her job performance scores.
The motion further criticized Tsai for his negligence in the initial investigation into Wu’s death, accusing him of hastily attributing it to “personal reasons.” It also noted Tsai’s role in persuading superiors that a detailed report on the probe was unnecessary, which fueled public outcry and damaged the government’s image.
In response, the Ministry of Labor (MOL), responsible for overseeing the WDA’s operations, expressed respect for the Control Yuan’s decision and pledged cooperation with the Disciplinary Court’s investigation. Following the public uproar, the MOL announced on November 20 last year, after a job performance review committee meeting, that Hsieh would receive two major demerits and be dismissed, while Tsai would receive one major demerit and be reassigned to a nonmanagerial position.