Migration to immigration, fight for decision on 2022

Taiwan MOL to finish migrant worker immigration policy assessment by March

Skilled migrant workers with over 6 years in Taiwan may be able to apply for residency

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Labor (MOL) is currently discussing a policy that will allow eligible migrant workers to apply for residency and will deliver an assessment report to the Cabinet by the end of March, Minister of Labor Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春) said on Monday (Jan. 10).

At a panel discussion in Kaohsiung City that focused on migrant worker issues, business representatives complained about the current shortage of workers and financial stress stemming from having to pay for migrant workers’ quarantine costs. Additionally, businesses also face the challenge of having to constantly train new workers after experienced workers are forced to leave Taiwan after meeting official deadlines, Liberty Times reported.

Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) said Taiwan’s migrant worker immigration policy is needed quickly. She suggested that the Cabinet should assess the impact of sub-replacement fertility and population aging in Taiwan as well as Taiwan’s economic development, and raise the number of migrant workers allowed into Taiwan in the next three to 10 years to better support Taiwan’s labor market.

Hsu responded by saying that it “won’t take too long” before the policy is ready, as it will protect the rights of migrant workers and prevent them from being “visiting laborers” forever, per Liberty Times. Under the program, skilled migrant workers who have been in Taiwan for six years or more and whose salary meets certain thresholds will be able to apply for residency.

As for quarantine costs, Hsu said the government already does cover some expenses. The MOL is also currently actively looking for more sources of migrant workers to address the labor shortage in Taiwan, Hsu was cited as saying.

Migration to immigration, fight for next year's decision

December 8, 2021

 There is a large shortage of workers across Taiwan, and migrant workers are expected to become immigrants.  Minister of Labor Xu Mingchun said yesterday (8) that an inter-ministerial meeting is discussing that migrant workers who have worked in Taiwan for six years, have skills, and have a salary threshold of a certain level, can apply to stay in Taiwan and will be positioned as "mid-level technical manpower."  ; After another five years of work, you can apply for permanent residence, and it is expected to be finalized as soon as early next year.  

 Xu Mingchun went to the Social Welfare, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Committee of the Legislative Yuan yesterday to conduct a project report and inquiries on issues such as epidemic prevention for foreign migrant workers.  DPP legislator Huang Xiufang asked whether there is a shortage of jobs in all walks of life in the country. Can migrant workers in Taiwan become immigrants?  

 Xu Mingchun said that how to turn outstanding migrant workers into immigrants is now being discussed and discussed in inter-ministerial meetings. In the past, outsiders have advocated extending the number of years of migrant workers in Taiwan, but it is not the way to continue to extend the number of years. "Change immigration" has become a topic to be considered.  In coordination with the National Development Council's immigration policy, the Ministry of Labor has discussed how senior migrant workers stay in Taiwan, and the whole case will not be finalized until it is reported to the Executive Yuan.  

 According to the preliminary plan of the Ministry of Labor, the three conditions of working in Taiwan for six years, reaching a certain level of technology, and reaching a certain salary threshold are required to apply to stay in Taiwan and convert to mid-level technical manpower. If you continue to work in Taiwan for five years, you can  Can apply for permanent residence, and can bring their families to Taiwan, hoping to increase the willingness of migrant workers to stay in Taiwan.  Xu Mingchun said that if technology and salary conditions are not considered first, there are currently about 180,000 migrant workers in Taiwan for more than six years.  

 Huang Xiufang pointed out that at present, the longest working life of migrant workers in Taiwan is 12 years, which can be extended for another two years, and the longest is 14 years. If skilled migrant workers cannot stay in Taiwan and transfer to other countries to work, it will be a loss to Taiwan, but how to determine the technology  Skilled migration?  And will it affect the employment opportunities of domestic workers?  

 Xu Mingchun said that it is necessary to limit the technical level, which types of technical migrant workers can stay in Taiwan, which will be recognized by the various ministries, and the migrant workers must also pass the technical verification process.  In addition, the salary threshold will be set, "Don't pay low," just don't want to exclude natives from employment.  

 Officials of the Executive Yuan revealed that there is no need to amend the law for the related loosening, as long as the executive order is amended.  It is understood that the National Development Council is leading the plan for the deregulation of middle-level technical manpower. There is no need to amend the law for this deregulation, as long as the "Foreigners Engaged in Employment Service Law" Article 46, paragraph 1, paragraphs 8 to 11 "  "Work qualifications and review standards" are sufficient. If the government decides, it can be implemented immediately.  

 Officials pointed out that the industry has repeatedly clamored for the willingness and demand to retain mid-level technical talents, and business owners are willing to increase the salary appropriately to retain these skilled masters. As for the specific needs and the expectations of the industry, it will continue to collect opinions.

https://www.ey.gov.tw/Page/5A8A0CB5B41DA11E/bad691ec-b013-4a38-9e35-92d2eff33623