On 16 March 2011, Taiwan government announced its intentions to lift all retaliatory measures taken against the Philippines by removing extra restrictions it had previously imposed on Filipino workers. This decision was taken in response to the goodwill shown by the Philippine government following the deportation row.
Philippine government has repeatedly demonstrated its regret over the incident using various concrete measures such as demoting its immigration bureau chief and suspending the head of the bureau’s intelligence division. These constructive efforts have met Taiwan’s expectations, and therefore the government decided to swiftly lift all the restrictions it had formerly imposed on visa applications and work permits for Filipino workers.
The punitive measures set a screening period for new Filipino workers’ applications that could take up to four months, compared with the previous 7-12-day maximum. It was seen as a “technical freeze on all Filipino workers.” Also, rules allowing all Filipinos holding travel visas granted by the U.S., Canada, Japan, England, and the European Union, to enter Taiwan visa free if they complete an entry application online before their scheduled visit will also be re-instated.
Philippine government has repeatedly demonstrated its regret over the incident using various concrete measures such as demoting its immigration bureau chief and suspending the head of the bureau’s intelligence division. These constructive efforts have met Taiwan’s expectations, and therefore the government decided to swiftly lift all the restrictions it had formerly imposed on visa applications and work permits for Filipino workers.
The punitive measures set a screening period for new Filipino workers’ applications that could take up to four months, compared with the previous 7-12-day maximum. It was seen as a “technical freeze on all Filipino workers.” Also, rules allowing all Filipinos holding travel visas granted by the U.S., Canada, Japan, England, and the European Union, to enter Taiwan visa free if they complete an entry application online before their scheduled visit will also be re-instated.
Taiwan will also abolish a regulation imposed on Filipino workers requiring them to include a social insurance card with their employment application documentation. This came one day after Philippine envoy second visit of representative of Philippine to Taiwan in order to met with President to explain his government’s responses following the controversial deportation incident.
