A Taipei hospital was fined after it fired a male employee for dressing as a woman at work.

According to reports, the case is the first of its kind to occur in Taiwan.

A Taipei labor department official said on May 18 that the private Mackay Memorial Hospital was fined NT$50,000 ($1,720) for violating equality laws after it fired Chou Yi-jen, a 35-year-old engineer, for being a transvestite.

"The hospital broke the law, and I was really hurt ... I wish I could have my job back," said Chou, clad in a mini-skirt.

Chou kept his cross-dressing a secret from his employer when he was hired five years ago. Last year, though, he started to grow long hair and wear women's clothes to work, the Apple Daily newspaper reported.

The hospital can appeal the ruling but has not yet announced if it plans to do so.

(AFP)