Amid a severe labor shortage of more than 200,000 workers required in various industries, Taiwanese Premier William Lai Ching-te said on Friday the government would have to reassess how to become a country that is more friendly toward migrant workers from Southeast Asia.
Lin Wan-i – an academic and minister without portfolio under the Executive Yuan – said the government should look at attracting and retaining talented people from countries that benefit from the New Southbound Policy to become Taiwan nationals, Commercial Times reported.
As for immigration population growth, Lin said that Taiwan largely depended on marriages and family reunions, but that was not an effective way of recruiting talented people.
In order to keep pace with other modern developed economies, Taiwan should attract young foreigners and skilled workers to reside in the island nation to boost its labor productivity.
Lin suggested that the government attract students from Southeast Asian countries to pursue technical or higher education, so they will be equipped with the necessary skills that various industries want.
By nurturing youngsters, it was hoped that they could stay and work in Taiwan and eventually become permanent residents.
Better labor rights should also be given to foreign domestic caregivers, who were becoming important human assets for Taiwan, given that quite a large number of them are willing to work and spend many years doing that work – up to the 14-year upper limit.
According to statistics Ministry of Labor statistics, at the end of February 2017, 233,000 workers were needed by various industries in Taiwan. About 88,000 people were needed in manufacturing, including 18,706 workers required in plants making electronic parts. Plus, there were over 43,000 vacancies unfilled in retail and wholesale businesses.
We are foreign workers here in taiwan for 12 yrs can we extend to another 3 yrs
It sounds good but it is also challenge leaders from Southeast Asia how to fill the market’s need in Taiwan based on the New Southbound Policy of RoC.
Please help us relay our request that the Ministry of Labor of Taiwan should extend their working limit to 15years or more so that they could retain dedicated foreign workers in their country.
Foreign worker’s here in Taiwan whose contract is about to end usually don’t want to extend their stay, as a greater offer awaits them in Taiwan’s neighboring countries like S. Korea and Japan. If Taiwan can rival the offer from those countries probably a lot of those talented workers will stay and SE Asian worker’s will be attracted to come here and work.
I’m almost finishing my 14years, is there a possibility that we can stay more than that if you are looking for skilled workers. it’s a waste of time hiring new workers you have to start from beginning.
Tama ka
14 years kn sa Manufacturing? 12 years Lang alam ko para sa Katulad ntin
Asia Times don’t respond to comments. I’m wondering why.
if only given the chance to work here for a long period of time i’ll be willing stay and work here as long as my company want me to work ive been working for more than 10 yrs but my employer dont how process these papers they are dependent with our broker, i’ll be willing to process the necessary documents by myself if given the chance
After 14 years is there any options to stay in Taiwan?
Ask your employer to apply you a resident visa. As I heard as long as their is a company who want to employ you,you can apply for it. It is six months visa,but can extend up to 3 tines, or up to 48 months. That’s what I’m going to suggest to my boss coz they want me to come back after my 12years