Taiwan’s Council of Labour Affairs (CLA) was expected to implement the hourly-pay foreign caregivers system in March. Late February, CLA made a final consideration of the system, which employers, who are qualified to hire foreign caregivers, could employ though making a request to the council.
CLA said in the future, social work agencies which provide long-term care services can also make a request to the council. So far, only Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation has made the request to use the system. The foundation plans to start implementing the system in July.
The foundation’s president said the hourly pay system helps solve problems stemming from long-term care service. Many families cannot afford to pay for such services provided by domestic caregivers, who charge TWD 2,000 a day or TWD 60,000 a month. There was a human rights issue, where foreign caregivers do not get holiday because they live with their employer. However, only employers, who have permission, can hire foreign caregivers.
CLA said hourly-pay caregivers are employed by social work agencies so care recipients are not responsible for them. The pay rate must be agreed by care recipients and caregivers providers but it basically must not be lowered than what foregin caregivers normally get. Social work agencies will be responsible for all their accommodation and problems created by foreign caregivers, including runaway caregivers. The system helps lower pressure from those who have to fire foreign caregivers.
Office of Labour Affairs in Taipei
