The Trade and Labor Committee Meeting under the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC) was staged Aug. 6 via videoconference from Taipei City and Wellington, the Ministry of Labor said.
According to the MOL, attendees included Chuang Mei-chuan, director-general of the ministry’s Department of General Planning; Song Ming-haur, director of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New Zealand’s Economic Division; Nita Zodgekar, manager of International Labour Policy under New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; and Christopher Langley, director of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office.
During the event, each side shared its respective labor developments, with participants from Taiwan covering the status of amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act and those from New Zealand detailing similar system reforms, the MOL said. They also exchanged experience pertaining to the green economy and labor market policy, including Taiwan’s research on transitioning to net-zero emissions and New Zealand’s measures to improve employee relations, the ministry added.
Eight reports were presented during the meeting, the MOL said, adding that attendees agreed to explore cooperation opportunities in vocational education and training and just transition of the workforce. The two sides also decided to hold the 13th edition in New Zealand in 2027, the ministry noted.
During her opening remarks, Chuang expressed her hope that Taiwan and New Zealand will continue deepening economic and labor collaboration, while Song said that the two sides’ public and the private sectors are working together to promote artificial intelligence personnel cultivation and relevant certification systems.
Zodgekar cited New Zealand’s efforts to advance quality of life for workers over the past year, and Langley praised the meeting for boosting dialogue and exchanges between the like-minded partners. (YCH-E)
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