On the afternoon of March 24, 2022, Taipei time, the Research Institute for Work and Society (HIVA) of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) joined the Ministry of Labor (MOL) at the Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health of the MOL (hereinafter referred as ILOSH) and co-hosted the first Labor Policy Conference via video conference and in person.

The conference invited Vice Rector International Policy and Interculturality Peter Lievens of the KU Leuven, Ambassador Tsai Ming-Yen of the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium, and Deputy Minister Wang Shang-Chih of the MOL to attend and present opening remarks. Additionally, labor policy research experts and scholars from Belgium and Taiwan were also invited to share the current labor market statuses of both countries as well as to focus on the discussion of the changes and trends of the labor market as a result of the new emerging business models.

Conference agenda 1 was moderated by Research Manager Dr. Ezra Dessers of the HIVA, KU Leuven. Chen Wei-Lin, Associate Researcher of the Division of Labor Relations Research of ILOSH gave a speech on the "Labor Issues for Platform Workers". Dr. Kris Bachus, research manager of HIVA, KU Leuven gave a speech on "The Impact of Climate and Circular Economy Transitions on Jobs and Skills".

Conference agenda 2 was moderated by Director Lin Shih-Teng of the Division of Labor Market, ILOSH. Chen Li-Ping, Associate Researcher of the Division of Labor Market, ILOSH gave a speech on "Labor Market Manpower Trend Analysis-Labor Insurance Data Observations ". Dr. Tim Goesaert, the Research Manager of the HIVA, KU Leuven, gave a speech on "Measuring Belgium Labor Market Dynamics using Administrative Records".

Towards the end of the conference, Dr. Geert Van Hootegem, General Director of HIVA, KU Leuven and Dr. Ho Jiune-Jye, Chairperson of ILOSH, discussed recent important research issues via a one-on-one conversation. In their closing remarks, both directors thanked the experts and scholars who participated in this conference and hoped to meet again in person after the pandemic situation is improved and borders are re-opened. Ambassador Tsai of the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium also said that it's good to see that the two institutes already have concrete ideas for collaboration, and the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium will continue to assist the two institutes on the promotion of matters of collaboration. This drew the conference to a perfect end.

Keywords: Research Institute for Work and Society (HIVA) of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Labor Policy, Labor Market

Labor policy research experts and scholars from Belgium and Taiwan sharing the current labor market statuses and future trends of both countries