Founding of the Republic of China in Taiwan

A public holiday under Taiwan law

Taiwan’s Memorial Days and Holidays Implementation Act names January 1 as the Founding Day of the Republic of China and provides one day off for it. The law also directs government agencies to display the national flag and calls for commemorative activities by relevant agencies, organizations and schools.[1]

For workers covered by the Labor Standards Act, employers must provide paid time off on national holidays. If an employer obtains a worker’s consent for work on such a holiday, the Ministry of Labor says the worker is entitled to double wages; the paid-leave rules also apply to hourly and daily paid workers.[3]

Date and substitute holidays

The holiday falls on January 1 every year. Under the law, a memorial-day holiday that coincides with a regular day off receives a substitute holiday; the responsible authorities announce adjustments, and certain year-round public services may adjust their scheduled days off to meet operational needs.[1][2]

The founding and its meaning

The anniversary refers to the founding of the Republic of China, not to the founding of Taiwan. The Office of the President’s historical account says the Wuchang uprising of October 10, 1911, began the Xinhai Revolution; Sun Yat-sen was elected provisional president and set January 1, 1912, as the first day of the Republic.[4]

In Taiwan, the anniversary is part of the country’s official calendar of memorial days. The law distinguishes it from National Day, which is observed on October 10, and assigns January 1 its own holiday and commemorative activities.[1]

Ceremonies and practical effects

The law provides for flags to be displayed and commemorations to be held, but it does not prescribe one identical public programme for every place. A Presidential Office account of the 2012 observance documents a flag-raising ceremony in the plaza outside the building, with attendees waving flags, singing the national anthem and watching the national flag rise.[1][5]

Government agencies and schools are included in Taiwan’s official holiday calendar, although some public services can adjust their schedules. Private employers follow the labor-holiday rules above; check opening hours with shops, restaurants and banks, and check transport schedules before making plans.[2][3]