Kaohsiung Labor Museum Introduction
For a century, Kaohsiung has been a crucial hub for industrial development, with the Export Processing Zone contributing to Taiwan's economic miracle. The city has a large labor force and a rich, diverse labor culture, which has led to the unique industrial landscape of this major city. To preserve and share the valuable context of Kaohsiung's economic growth and labor cultural values, the only Labor Museum in the country was established in 2009 at the Pier-2 Art Center. The museum's mission is to collect, research, preserve, and maintain historical materials and cultural assets related to labor issues both domestically and internationally. Through interactive exhibitions, educational promotions, publications, and performing arts activities, the museum aims to inform the public about the life stories and cultural values of Taiwanese workers. In July 2015, the Labor Museum was relocated and reopened at No. 261, Zhongzheng 4th Road, Qianjin District. At the entrance stands a statue of a worker wearing a safety helmet and holding a double-headed wrench, and the wall at the entrance features a mosaic of workers' portraits. Inside the museum, there are interactive permanent exhibitions such as "Traces of Sweat" and "Transmission of Ships," along with special exhibitions and collections discussing various labor issues. This vibrant presentation and exchange of worker stories make it an important venue for understanding the local culture and economic development history of Kaohsiung.
