TAIWAN-SEMICONDUCTORS
Micron Technology's advanced packaging and testing facilities are located in Taichung, Taiwan. With the growing demand for high-bandwidth memory driven by AI servers, Micron's manufacturing presence in Taiwan is attracting attention, and labor and management are continuing negotiations regarding bonuses and profit-sharing arrangements.

US memory-chip giant Micron Technology is facing pressure to negotiate with its employees in Taiwan. President Lai Ching-te recently called on the company and its workers to communicate sincerely and seek common ground over a disputed bonus system. The unions, meanwhile, want management to put forward a more specific employee profit-sharing plan.

According to a Reuters report, Lai made the remarks on Oct. 15 during a visit to Taichung, where he attended an event related to Micron’s new advanced packaging and testing facility. He said he hoped both sides would continue negotiating in good faith and establish more stable labor-management relations. Lai also praised Micron’s investment in Taiwan and expressed hope that the company would continue expanding its presence here.

Micron has major manufacturing and research and development operations in Taiwan, covering products including dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and high-bandwidth memory (HBM). As demand for artificial intelligence servers grows, HBM has become a key component supporting AI computing, making Taiwan’s production sites important to Micron’s global supply chain.

Reuters reported that Micron has about 15,000 employees in Taiwan and that the company’s investment here has exceeded NT$1.6 trillion. Micron’s chief operating officer also said capacity from the new facilities scheduled to come online in 2027 has already been fully sold, while demand for HBM is expected to continue growing.

Strong market demand, however, has not resolved differences between labor and management over the bonus and profit-sharing systems. The Micron Taichung union previously secured members’ authorization to take strike action if necessary. Unions in Taoyuan and Taichung are also calling on the company to propose a more transparent and institutionalized profit-sharing plan.

The unions plan to mobilize members to attend a rally in Taipei on Oct. 19, while stressing that the event will not be a strike. Micron said it values employees’ views and is willing to maintain communication in a constructive manner.

Whether the negotiations can make progress will affect employee rights, operational stability and labor relations in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. For the technology sector, which relies heavily on specialized talent, how to balance corporate competitiveness, employee contributions and compensation systems will remain closely watched.