On June 3, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) held its annual shareholder meeting, which was met with protests from labor rights groups over a string of workplace accidents in recent years. Protesters accused the chipmaking giant of being a "sweatshop" and neglecting construction site safety at its manufacturing facilities.

According to Taiwan media reports, protesters gathered at the venue holding signs and shouting slogans such as "TSMC earns billions while workers suffer," citing ten worker deaths since 2019 at various construction sites in Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, and Chiayi. Most incidents occurred at projects managed by subcontractors and involved high-risk tasks such as scaffolding, electrical work, and equipment installation.

Two serious workplace accidents recently occurred at TSMC's advanced packaging facility under construction in Chiayi. Two weeks ago, a worker fell from scaffolding and sustained severe injuries that may result in paralysis. On May 26, another worker was fatally struck by a two-ton power panel during a crane operation.

Labor activist Lin Shu-Zhen criticized TSMC for outsourcing high-risk work to contractors while maintaining a low official injury rate. She accused the company of shifting safety responsibility to external firms.

Outside the shareholder meeting, families of deceased workers and labor associations distributed an open letter to shareholders, demanding three actions from TSMC:

 1.Immediate condolences and support for victims and their families.

 2.Transparency and improvements in occupational safety management.

 3.Establishment of an independent third-party safety oversight mechanism.

However, TSMC did not formally respond to the demands, and no representatives accepted the petition.

In response to the "sweatshop" accusations circulating online—particularly claims that engineers work long hours and are on-call 24/7—TSMC Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei dismissed the characterization. "Do I look like I'm sweating? Look how fat I am—it's impossible," he joked. He emphasized that the company promotes a culture of integrity, innovation, and personal fulfillment, stating that "employee happiness is the foundation of sustainable development."

Wei also highlighted TSMC's ongoing hiring plans—bringing in around 9,000 new employees annually—and said he looks for people who align with the company's values. Discussing partnerships with startups, he optimistically noted, "Next year, we'll have many more NVIDIAs."

Looking ahead, Wei acknowledged global economic uncertainties but reiterated his confidence in TSMC's leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. As long as AI demand persists, he said, the company's outlook remains strong.