The Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) is set to readjust the employment structure concerning foreign workers employed in Taiwan and conditionally ease the hiring of foreign laborers for night-shift jobs in next coming meeting to finalize the new policy.
According to the CLA plan, the total number of foreign workers employed by enterprises in Taiwan will remain unchanged. But the allocation of available foreign workers to be employed by various companies in different industries will be revamped.
CLA officials said that in view of the gradual economic recovery, a growing number of industries now see an acute demand for workers while local people continue shunning night-shift work at manufacturing companies that maintain operations around the clock. For this reason, the permission to hire foreign workers by such enterprises will be conditionally revived.
Companies will be able to file applications to employ foreign laborers in accordance with the same rules governing the hiring of workers for jobs that are dirty, difficult and dangerous with pollution hazards.
The percentages of employed foreign workers are presently set at 15, 28, and 20 percent of the total numbers of employees at different companies. For the employment structural changes, the percentages will be expanded to five brackets of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 35 percent, meaning foreign workers can account for as many as 35 percent of the workforce at some qualified enterprises.
CLA officials explained that since the aggregate number of foreign workers allowed into Taiwan will be maintained, the percentages of foreign workers at certain companies will be reduced as a result. For example, the foreign workers at larger enterprises with 1,000 to 3,000 people, employees will be reduced by 2 percent while that for larger companies with more than 3,000 employees can be shaved by 3 percent.
Meanwhile, the council is still debating whether to revise the restrictions on hiring domestic helpers from abroad. There are reports that the CLA has decided to reverse an earlier policy of allowing families with two senior citizens exceeding the age of 80 to hire household foreign maids, due to strong opposition from domestic welfare organizations and lawmakers fearing possible impacts on job opportunities for local maids. Officials clarified that the issue has not been decided yet since there are divided views on the relaxation measure. This controversial issue will be discussed at the CLA meeting next Monday.
source : labor taipei office
