Employee health checkup / Labor health examination: regulations, items, and frequency? How often and who pays at a glance
Labor health examinations (employee checkups) are a statutory obligation of employers: according to Article 20 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Labor Health Protection Rules, employers must arrange physical examinations at the time of hiring and regular general health examinations during employment. The cost is borne by the employer and cannot be charged to the worker, and must be conducted by medical institutions accredited by the Ministry of Labor. General checkup frequency by age: under 40 every 5 years, 40 to under 65 every 3 years, 65 and above once a year; those engaged in special hazardous operations require additional annual special health examinations. The following summarizes legal basis, examination items, frequency, and the difference between 'labor health checkups and self-paid advanced checkups.' This is a neutral compilation of public information; individual rights are subject to the competent authorities and regulations.
Is the labor health exam a statutory obligation of the employer? Who pays?
Yes. According to Article 20 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Labor Health Protection Rules, employers must arrange health examinations for workers, with costs borne by the employer and not charged to the worker; workers also have the obligation to undergo examinations. Examinations must be conducted by medical institutions accredited by the Ministry of Labor:
- Legal basis: Article 20 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Labor Health Protection Rules
- Cost: Borne by the employer, not transferable to the worker
- Institution: Must be a health examination medical institution accredited by the Ministry of Labor
What is the difference between a physical examination and a general health examination?
The timing and purpose differ (per Articles 27 and 28 of the Enforcement Rules of the Occupational Safety and Health Act):
- Physical examination: Conducted 'upon hiring' to assess job suitability and detect diseases incompatible with the work
- General health examination: Conducted 'during employment' at regular intervals based on age
- The items are similar, but the timing and purpose differ
How often should examinations be conducted? (By age)
The frequency of general health examinations for active workers, according to Article 17 of the Labor Health Protection Rules, is divided into three levels by age:
- Under 40: once every 5 years
- 40 to under 65: once every 3 years
- 65 and above: once per year
- Workers engaged in operations with special health hazards (e.g., noise, dust, ionizing radiation, specific chemicals) must additionally undergo special health examinations annually
What items are included in a general labor health examination?
The items in a general health examination are statutory (Appendix 9 of the Labor Health Protection Regulations) and constitute a basic health assessment. Common items include:
- Inquiry into work history, past medical history, and lifestyle habits; height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure
- Visual acuity, color vision, hearing; chest X-ray
- Blood tests (hemoglobin, white blood cells), blood glucose, blood lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL/LDL), liver function (GOT, GPT), kidney function (creatinine), urinalysis
- Special health examinations additionally include corresponding items based on the hazard factor (e.g., hearing tests for noise exposure, chest X-ray interpretation and pulmonary function tests for dust exposure)
What is the difference between labor health examinations and self-paid advanced health examinations?
The purposes and contents of the two are different and can complement each other:
- Labor health examination: statutory minimum items, employer-paid, focusing on occupational health and basic screening
- Self-paid advanced health examination: optional, self-paid, with broader and deeper items (e.g., MRI, painless endoscopy, tumor markers, cardiovascular imaging)
- For those who want a more comprehensive personal risk assessment, self-paid items can be planned based on age and family history in addition to the labor health examination (see "How to Choose Health Examination Items" on this site)
- Note: The "Preventive Occupational Disease Health Examination" under labor insurance is a separate benefit paid by the Bureau of Labor Insurance (currently under the Labor Occupational Accident Insurance and Protection Act) and should not be confused with the employer-conducted labor health examination
FAQ
Is the company required to provide health exams for employees? Who pays?
Yes. According to Article 20 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Labor Health Protection Rules, employers must arrange physical examinations upon hiring and regular general health examinations during employment. The cost is borne by the employer and cannot be charged to the worker. Examinations must be conducted by medical institutions accredited by the Ministry of Labor.
How often should employee health exams be conducted?
According to Article 17 of the Labor Health Protection Rules, the frequency of general health examinations for active workers depends on age: once every 5 years for those under 40, once every 3 years for those aged 40 to under 65, and once every year for those aged 65 and above. Workers engaged in operations with special health hazards must undergo special health examinations annually.
Are physical examinations and health examinations the same?
Not exactly. Physical examinations are conducted 'upon hiring' to assess job suitability and detect diseases that may be incompatible with the work. General health examinations are conducted 'during employment' at regular intervals based on age. The items are similar, but the timing and purpose differ (per Articles 27 and 28 of the Enforcement Rules of the Occupational Safety and Health Act).
What items are included in a general labor health exam?
These are statutory items (Appendix 9 of the Labor Health Protection Rules), commonly including height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, vision, color vision, hearing, chest X-ray, as well as basic tests for blood, blood sugar, blood lipids, liver function (GOT/GPT), kidney function, and urine. For workers engaged in special hazardous operations, additional special health exam items are added based on the hazard factors.
What is the difference between a labor health exam and a self-paid advanced health exam?
The labor health exam is a statutory minimum, paid by the employer, focusing on occupational health and basic screening. Self-paid advanced health exams are optional, self-funded, and cover a broader and deeper range of items (e.g., MRI, painless endoscopy, tumor markers). The two can complement each other. For a more comprehensive assessment of personal risk, one may plan self-paid items based on age and family history in addition to the labor health exam.
How long must the company keep records of special health examinations?
According to the Labor Health Protection Rules, records of special physical and health examinations must generally be kept for at least 10 years. For listed high-hazard operations such as ionizing radiation, dust, benzene, vinyl chloride, asbestos, and cadmium, records must be kept for at least 30 years. Records of general health examinations and physical examinations should also be kept as required.
This page is a neutral compilation of information for reference only, not Medical advice, and does not constitute any diagnostic commitment.