Migrant workers, largest group of foreign residents
Statistics from the Interior Ministry indicate that foreign workers make up the largest group of foreign residents in Taiwan. Out of a total foreign population of 467,979, some 62.2 were migrant workers while 14.7 percent were foreign spouses (excluding Chinese spouses). Thais, Filipinos and Vietnamese workers comprised the three largest groups of foreign labor.
The Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) is considering steps to gradually reduce the number of foreign caregivers in the country. It will coordinate with the Department of Health and the Interior Ministry to come up with suitable measures to control the hiring of foreign caregivers and, at the same time, promote the employment of local caregivers. As of June this year, there were 339,900 foreign caregivers in Taiwan, 36,000 more than last year.
CLA chairperson Lee Ying-yuan said in a recent dialogue with businessmen that the council would consider allowing manufacturing enterprises to hire foreign workers to work on night shifts that are ordinarily shunned by local workers. Lee said, however, that the CLA has yet to decide on the number of workers to be brought into Taiwan for this purpose.
Labor rights groups led by the Taiwan International Workers’ Association, issued a statement on 26 July critical of the CLA chairperson. The group accused Lee of making a series of proposals favoring business owners to the detriment of laborers, especially disadvantaged migrant workers. The proposal to bring in foreign workers to work in night shifts, if approved, would allegedly hinder wage increases for Taiwanese blue-collar workers. Moreover, the statement said, the CLA has not made any moves to raise the minimum wage set in the Labor Standards Law, which has been pegged at NT$15,840 for the last 10 years.
The CLA announced plans to increase the cash rewards to as high NT$50,000 for informants who could help authorities nab irregular migrant workers and their employers. However, the amount would depend on the nature and seriousness of the reported case. The CLA previously offered cash rewards of NT$5,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of runaway workers and NT$2,000 for reported irregularities by both employers and foreign workers
According to the Immigration Office, some 200 irregular immigrants from China, including 170 men and 30 women, were repatriated on 21 July. A new vessel from China, called the ‘New Strait,’ made its maiden voyage to repatriate the immigrants from Taiwan’s outlying island of Matsu. This brings the total number of repatriated Chinese immigrants to 4,140 since August 2004.
After a series of labor-related problems involving foreign workers last year, the Kaohsiung City Council passed a resolution prohibiting the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Co. (KRTC) from extending the two-year contracts of its current foreign workers. As a result, almost 200 Thai workers employed by KRTC left the country last month and about 500 more are expected to return home in the coming months when their contracts expire. KRTC officials claim the company would be facing a severe labor shortage especially when the construction of the city’s mass rapid transit system shifts into high gear. The company needs to hire at least 400 local workers to replace the departing Thais before the end of this year.
The Scalabrinian Missionaries, who minister to the needs of migrants, are finalizing the establishment of a Taipei-based NGO that would lobby and advocate for migrants’ rights in the international front. The Scalabrinian NGO in Taiwan intends to contribute to public policy dialogue to influence governments, promote both regional and national interests through international forums, encourage networking and partnership development, and information exchange. Lorna Kung, a seasoned Taiwanese migrant advocate and Rev. Karolus Roberto Suwendi, an Indonesian priest, head the Taipei-based NGO.
Taiwan would be issuing new alien resident certificates (ARCs) to the more than 300,000 foreigners working in the country before the end of the year. The new ARCs would contain integrated circuit (IC) chips that would protect the cards from counterfeiting and help boost national security. The use of the smart IC cards would allow the government to keep track of foreign workers and discourage them from overstaying, running away or committing crimes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on 18 July that Taiwan’s representative offices in the Middle East are in close contact with the 75 Taiwanese expatriates in the region since the start of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. There are currently 25 Taiwanese nationals residing in Lebanon, mostly women and children, and 40 others based in Israel. The ministry has directed its representative offices in Jordan and Israel to closely monitor the situation in the region and has issued a travel advisory to citizens against making trips to the two countries.
Mainland Affairs Council chairperson Joseph Wu relayed to a visiting Canadian parliamentary delegation on 17 July Taiwan’s request to Canada to grant visa-free privileges to Taiwanese tourists. Wu also expressed hope that the Canadian parliamentarians would legislate a Taiwan Affairs Act, similar to the American’s Taiwan Relations Act, to enhance bilateral ties.
Sources: Marie Feliciano, “Seasoned activist Lorna Kung tapped to head lobbying organization," Taiwan News, 16 July 2006; Sofia Wu, CNA, “Canada urged to grant visa-free treatment for Taiwan tourists," 18 July 2006; Elizabeth Hsu, CNA, “REP office maintains close contact with Taiwan expats in Mideast," Taiwan News, 19 July 2006; Chang Yun-ping, “Most Taiwanese expatriates safe: MOFA," Taipei Times, 19 July 2006; CNA, “KRTC faces labor crisis as Thai workers return home," Taipei Times, 19 July 2006; CNA, “KRTC said to face labor shortage," 19 July 2006; DPA, “Taiwan needs more foreign workers for night shifts," Manila Bulletin, 19 July 2006; “Foreigners to get ARCs with IC chips," The China Post, 21 July 2006; “Foreign workers to be issued new forgery-proof IDs," Taipei Times, 21 July 2006; Jean Lin, “Hundreds of illegal Chinese immigrants repatriated," Taipei Times, 22 July 2006; “Foreign workers may work on night shift at plants," The China Post, 23 July 2006; CNA, “CLA chief favoring business owners, labor groups say," Taipei Times, 27 July 2006; Jean Lin, “Laborers comprise biggest group of foreign residents," Taipei Times, 30 July 2006; CNA, “CLA to increase bounty on illegal foreign workers," Taipei Times, 30 July 2006; CNA, “CLA may lower caregiver quota," Taiwan News, 31 July 2006; CNA, “CLA mulls options on foreign caregivers," The China Post, 31 July 2006; CNA, “Number of foreign caregivers going up sharply, CLA says," Taipei Times, 31 July 2006; “MOFA official, Ma, meets Taiwanese expats in Israel," Taipei Times, 31 July 2006