migrant workers during COVID-19 in Taiwan

Wage Hike for Migrant Workers Criticized for Limited Scope

Brian Hioe
Migrant workers and migrant worker advocates criticized a recent wage hike that would increase the minimum monthly wage for live-in migrant workers, who primarily work in homes taking care of the elderly, from 17,000 NT to 20,000 NT. Namely, though the wage hike increases the minimum monthly wage for live-in migrant workers by 17%, the wage hike is still 5,250 NT below the minimum wage in Taiwan, which is 25,250 NT...
August 2022EnglishLaborSocial Movements5 min read

Arrest of Migrant Worker Visa Overstayer Likely to Discourage Others From Being Vaccinated

Brian Hioe
Efforts to vaccinate undocumented migrant workers or migrant workers who have left their employers and overstayed their visas in Taiwan are likely to encounter difficulties after police arrested a migrant worker from the Philippines who had overstayed her visa. This took place after she went to be vaccinated, despite promises by the Central Epidemic Command Center that undocumented migrant workers who wish to be vaccinated can do so without fear of arrest...
December 2021EnglishPolitics6 min read

COVID Insurance Required for Migrant Workers in New Regulations

Brian Hioe
A new requirement that took effect starting on December 1st requires migrant workers to have COVID-19 insurance before they will be allowed to enter Taiwan, which will be paid for by their employer. As with other inbound travelers, migrant workers will be required to quarantine for fourteen days after entry. But while, in theory, this should insure migrant workers so that they have coverage in the event that they have COVID-19 when they enter Taiwan, the possibility remains that employers will try to pass the costs onto migrant workers...
December 2021EnglishLaborSocial Movements5 min read

Party Arrests in Taoyuan Point to Larger Issues Facing Migrant Workers During COVID-19

Brian Hioe
Police cracked down on a party at a Vietnamese restaurant in Taoyuan on Sunday, finding that 102 migrant workers were gathered on the premises. While four of the individuals present were restaurant workers, 98 were customers—most of which were migrant workers. Police found the party while conducting door-to-door inspections, patrolling on the search for runaway migrant workers...
EnglishLaborRaceSeptember 2021Social Movements5 min read

Advocates Criticize New Plan to Regulate Employment Transfers for Migrant Workers

Brian Hioe
Migrant worker groups have criticized a new plan by the Ministry of Labor to require migrant workers transferring jobs to go through employment agencies run by the government. Likewise, jobs transfers will give greater priority to workers that remain in their occupational category, rather than workers trying to change between different forms of employment, and take the form of a three-way agreement between the former employer, the new employer, and the agency...
August 2021EnglishLaborSocial Movements5 min read