Taiwan

Foreign workforce as of February 2008

According to a report by the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA), by the end of February, the number of foreign workers reached 362,782, up by 3,679 from the previous month.  Foreign workers in the manufacturing sector accounted for 50.87 percent of the total number;   about 45.16 percent were caregivers, while 2.19 percent were employed in the construction industry.  Over 3,000 were hired as crewmen for Taiwanese fishing boats, while over 2,000 were domestic workers.  Indonesians comprise a third of foreign workers.

Raw deal for women migrant workers

A study conducted by the Taiwan International Family Association found that most women from Southeast Asia who migrated to Taiwan do not get their dues. Based on 75 one-on-one interviews, 72 percent do not have labor insurance, 68 percent work overtime without pay and only 14 percent are given wages that follow the Labor Standards Law. 

Labor group hits KMT

An amendment by the Kuomintang that aims to remove the wages of migrant workers from the list of provisions in the Labor Standard Act was criticized by Taiwan Labor Front as discriminatory and unfair.  The amendment proposes to let migrant workers’ wages be determined by the employers and employees instead of the labor act.  The group said the proposed amendment discriminates against migrant workers and will allow local employers to exploit them.  It plans to seek international sanctions if the KMT continues to push for the approval of the bill.

Over 2,000 foreign workers fail health exams

The Department of Health found that 2,962 or 8.76 percent of the 33,799 foreign workers who underwent health checks failed, mostly due to intestinal parasites that cause diarrhea and vomiting, among others.  A health official also announced on 21 April that 30 workers have been repatriated after health checks discovered they had tuberculosis.  Foreign workers are required to undergo health checks after 6, 18 and 30 months of their arrival in Taiwan.  They are allowed to remain in the country only if their health problems and illnesses can be treated.   

Orientation courses offered to foreign spouses

Foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens will get assistance in adapting to life in Taiwan, thanks to the Kaohsiung County service center, the first of its kind in southern Taiwan to provide an orientation service for them.  The two-hour orientation course will brief foreign wives of residency laws and information on living a better life in Taiwan.  The service center will be holding courses thrice a month.  There are over 6,000 foreign spouses in Kaohsiung County, mostly Vietnamese, Indonesians, Filipinos, Thais and Cambodians.  Around 35 to 40 new foreign spouses settle in Kaohsiung every month.

Sources: “Number of foreign workers tops 360,000, CLA reports,” Taiwan Headlines, 2 April 2008; Nick Huang, “Orientation course for foreign spouses opens in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan Headlines, 8 April 2008; CNA, “Civic group: KMT lawmakers’ new wage workers,” The China Post, 18 April 2008; “Nine percent of foreign workers fail health check,” Taiwan Headlines, 22 April 2008; “Group reveals job plight of immigrant women in Taiwan,” Taiwan Headlines, 27 April 2008