Taiwan (see also Thailand)

Task force findings reveal slave-like conditions for workers

The investigation conducted by the Taiwanese government into the riot involving some 300 Thai workers exposed that the workers were being treated like slaves.  The investigating team points to the employer, a Taiwanese subway-construction company, as the one responsible for the workers’ conditions that gave rise to the riot.  House Committee on Labor Panel spokesperson Suchart Lainamgern said around 800 of the 1,700 Thai laborers stayed in dormitories that could only house 300 people.  Moreover, compound security guards regularly used stun batons to punish Thai workers who broke plant regulations. The riot allegedly ensued after two Thais who were whipped with stun batons for using mobile phones asked help from their fellow workers.

New Labor Minister, Kaohsiung Mayor

Following the resignations of Labor Minister, Chen Chu, and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, over the Thai workers’ riot, Premier Frank Hsieh appointed Cabinet Secretary General Lee Ying-yuan to take over the Council of Labor Affairs while Former Vice Premier Yeh Chu-lan will handle the Kaohsiung mayoral post.  The two outgoing officials tendered their resignations to take responsibility for the riot involving Thai workers who protested their poor living conditions while working on the construction of the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit System. 

VP creates migrant workers’ task force

Vice President Annette Lu announced the setting up of a task force to review the nation’s immigrant labor policy.  A litigation team was also being formed to assist the Thai laborers facing charges for the rioting that took place last month.  The Taiwanese authorities concentrated on 16 Thai workers involved in the riot, encouraging them to voluntarily come forward; if they wait to be summoned, they will be dealt with according to normal procedures.

Kickbacks by job broker?

An investigation into the funding of the construction of the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. (KRTC) as well as the hiring of the Thai workers revealed “questionable capital flow” to Huapan Administration Consultant Co., Ltd. Yen Shih-hua, Huapan general manager, and his wife, Wang Tsai-pi were called in for questioning.  According to the records, Huapan reflected a cost of more than NT$50 million to build new dormitories for the foreign workers while the statement made by the three major contractors involved in the construction reported actual cost of only over NT$40 million.  The three contractors said that the discrepancy was due to Huapan’s demands for kickbacks for awarding them the contracts for the project.  The probe revealed that a portion of the funds found its way to accounts in the U.S. and Thailand. 

Meanwhile, Chen Min-hsien, Vice Chairman of KRTC said that there was nothing wrong in hiring Thai workers for the construction of the mass transport system.  He also denied that KRTC received any commission for the hiring and that “powerful people” profited from the import and management of Thai workers.  Furthermore, he stated that being a small player in the system, he could not possibly control the NT$104.7 billion engineering project.  He stressed that as far as the scope of his duty was concerned all he was tasked to do was mediate and resolve difficulties. 

Thai top lawyers, volunteer group to aid workers in riot case

The Thai government will send two senior lawyers to Taiwan to represent the Thai laborers who are facing charges for their participation in the recent riot where they went on a rampage over their poor living conditions.  The lawyers, Uthai Artiwet and Sasin Sukjaras, both from an international human rights protection organization, together with Nualpan Mahakun, executive director of the Thailand Trade and Economic Office in Taipei, will assist the workers in the legal proceedings.  The two senior lawyers have offered their legal services for free.

Several civic activist organizations formed a support group for the Thai workers involved in the recent riot.  The group stressed that “the Kaohsiung incident was not a riot but a justifiable protest” over inhumane treatment and poor living conditions.  The group maintained that the workers simply protested against tyranny and should not be punished as criminals.  Liao Yuan-hao, director of the group, added, that the Thai workers were, in fact, the victims in the whole matter.  Aside from offering legal assistance to the laborers, the group appealed for the revision of its foreign worker policy in line with the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

Groups protest abuse of Filipino workers

Civic and labor groups assembled outside the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) to protest the inhumane treatment and beating up of four Filipino workers by security guards of the Formosa Plastics Corp. (FPC).  According to the protesters, aside from being treated like concentration camp prisoners, a large portion of their salaries amounting to 40 percent (about NT$6,400-NT$8,400) were being deducted as brokerage fees every month.  The workers’ accommodations were allegedly inferior and filthy, which was why the workers staged a protest strike.  But instead of addressing the complaints, they were severely beaten and forced to leave the country on the same day.  The workers could not even call for help or assistance as their cell phones were confiscated. 

Taiwan needs 20,000 more foreign workers

Taiwan is opening up 20,000 job vacancies to foreign workers for its “3D” industries (difficult, dangerous and dirty) in order to sustain 15,000 factories that generate NT$130 billion annually in production value for the domestic economy.  At present, these industries have engaged the services of some 202,000 workers and but they need 40,000 more. Half of the needed number is designated for foreign labor; the other half would be made available to local workers.  At the close of July this year, Taiwan had a total of 158,775 foreign laborers.

Changes in foreign labor import policy proposed

Following the Kaohsiung riot where Thai workers protested the inhumane treatment they suffered, lawmakers are now endorsing changes in policy governing the importation of foreign workers.  Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislators Hsu Chong-hsuing proposed the compulsory state-to-state import of labor particularly for major government projects in order to eliminate exorbitant brokerage fees.  This will also prevent foreign workers from being exploited and overcharged since it will be the government, and not the brokerage companies, that will be responsible for the importation as well as ensuring their safety and welfare. 

Changing trends in sex trade

The National Police Administration reported that the number of sex workers from Southeast Asia is on the rise while that from China is on the decline due to stricter measures.  One-hundred forty foreign women were apprehended in the first six months of the year; the figure is 83 more than last year’s totals for the same period. The breakdown is as follows: 56 Vietnamese, 25 Cambodians and 24 Indonesians.

Former sex worker not allowed to enter Taiwan

Chou Hsein-chieh, 53, a grocery-store owner from Kaohsiung asked Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian to intervene in the case of his Chinese wife, Lan, whom the immigration authorities have banned from entering the country because of her background as a sex worker.  The couple’s dilemma is just one among many others throughout Taiwan particularly if the wife is a Chinese from the mainland.  An immigration ruling requires that Chinese citizens trying to enter Taiwan on marriage visas must be subjected to an interview and screening process in order to detect and prevent fake marriages.   Human rights groups, led by the Mainland Spouses’ Human Rights Association, have condemned the screening of mainland brides but the government insists that the process is necessary on national security grounds.

Sources: Chang Ling-yin, “Thai labor official insists workers be represented during questioning,” Taiwan News Online, 29 August 2005; AP, “Thai workers’ riot reveals possible graft, labor abuse,” 29 August 2005; Chang Ling-yin, “Incident cannot be called ‘riot’ declares group,” Taiwan News Online, 1 September 2005; AFP, “Kaohsiung riot: employer is to blame, task force says,” The Nation, 1 September 2005; “Cabinet demands timely probe reports on Thai labor riot,” The China Post, 1 September 2005; “Full review needed of foreign labor importation policy,” Taiwan News Online, 1 September 2005;  Shih Hsiu-chuan, CNA, “Lu announces migrant labor task force,” Taipei Times, 4  September 2005, CNA, “Thailand to dispatch lawyers to assist laborers in Taiwan,” Taiwan News Online, 4 September 2005; “Lu forms foreign workers’ human rights taskforce,” The China Post, 4 September 2005;  “Task force investigates foreign workers’ human rights,” The China Post, 4 September 2005; CNA, “Thailand to send lawyers to assist Thai laborers,” The China Post, 4 September 2005, AFP, “Taiwan labor minister tenders resignation over Thai workers’ riot,” 5 September 2005; Chang Ling-Yin, “Civil groups say Formosa Plastics abused Filipino migrant workers,” Taiwan News Online, 6 September 2005 “CLA chief determined to resign over laborers’ riot,” The China Post, 6 September 2005; “Erstwhile prostitute prevented from joining husband,” Taipei Times, 6 September 2005; “KRTC official denies wrongdoing in hiring Thai workers,” Taiwan News, 6 September 2005;  “Labor groups protest FPC’s treatment of Filipino workers,” The China Post, 6 September 2005; “Taiwanese labour minister resigns after Thai workers riot,” AsiaNews, 6 September 2005; “Three officials determined to resign over riot,” The China Post, 6 September 2005;  Chang Ling-Yin, “Group seeks reform of citizenship interviews,” Taiwan News,  7 September 2005; Ko Shu-ling, “Lawmakers push for labor changes,” Taipei Times, 7 September 2005; “Questionable money flow found at Kaohsiung firm,” The China Post, 7 September 2005; CNA, “Sex workers from Southeast Asia increase, police say,” Taipei Times, 13 September 2005; “Hsieh accepts loss of officials over worker riot,” Taiwan News,  13 September 2005,“Economics Ministry wants 20,000 more foreign workers,” www.gov.tw, 14 September 2005;  “Hsieh appoints successors to outgoing CLA chief, mayor,” The China Post, 14 September 2005