TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Thousands of workers from Taiwan's debt-ridden oil and electricity companies have taken to the street after utility rate hikes prompted public calls for job cuts.
Workers participating in Thursday's protest are from government-owned Taiwan Power Co. and the oil-importing CPC Corp.
Taiwan government recently announced a 10 percent fuel price increase and another plan to raise electricity rates by between 10 to 35 percent over the next year.
The measures are aimed at conserving energy and cutting the firms' heavy debts. But outraged Taiwanese want the companies to trim their labor forces.
The protesters blame the debts on a government policy requiring the firms to subsidize fuel and power rates.
