About 1,500 migrant workers and labor activists rallied on a street in Taipei on Sunday to demand political rights and better labor protection.
At 12:30pm, more than a thousand protesters gathered on Yanping North Road, Datong District, in front of the office of the Ministry of Labor and started a march called “Recognizing Non-citizens,” which referred to the civil rights of migrant workers and non-local spouses, Taiwan Times reported.
They marched in heavy rain toward Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Office of the President.
The protest, which is organized by the Migrants Empowerment Network in Taiwan (MENT) every two years, was originally set for last month but was postponed to this Sunday because of traffic requirements.
Hsu Wei-tung, a spokesman for MENT, said the political rights of non-citizens should be recognized as they live, consume and pay taxes in Taiwan just like citizens.
Holding an “anti-slavery” banner, protesters urged the government to amend the Labor Standards Act to allow migrant workers to change their jobs freely. They said many migrant workers were forced to run away after they were exploited by their employers.
According to Article 53 of the Labor Standards Act, migrant workers such as fishermen, caregivers and factory workers are not allowed to change jobs within the three-year term of the standard employment contract.
The organizer also said the government should ensure that migrant workers continue to receive the same pay as local workers. If migrant workers were paid less, local workers would soon see cuts to their own salaries.
Last month, it was rumored that the Taiwanese government was considering excluding migrant workers from protection under the Minimum Wage Act. On December 29, the Labor Ministry clarified in a statement that it had no intention of removing minimum-wage protection for migrant workers.
Sana naman taasan sweldo nming mga caretakers and have a weekly day off without deduction in our salary because we pay a monthly broker’s fee then our work is all around and 24/7 duty on work.please give us attention. We also pay tax then why our salary not included in increase like the factory workers.
Sana gayahin nila ang patakaran sa HongKong goverment for filipino OFW na may day off every week and holidays off .it should be thesame with the factory workers to the caretakers or caregivers for the rules and regulation.Tumaas ang sahod nila dapat kami rin na caretakers and cregivers ay tataas din.
If posible sir/ma’am,should be till 20 years approved can stay here in taiwan as a factory workers,fishermen and caregivers,,it depends to the employer if the employee is good,,,we think that you can approved this…please…..
sorry each of us is part of economic game.
I show genuine concern for foreign laborers as I too am a foreign worker though not in the same classification. If foreign workers were paid the same as Taiwan employees then it would take away the incentive to higher them because they would cost even more than local workers because you would still need to pay their broker. Thus the value of gathering foreign workers would be gone and everyone would be sent back to their countries. I think it should be reasonable to consider skill, experience, and education level. If they have skills that local workers don’t have and can significantly contribute to the company then their salaries should reflect that. I think emploieers should have the option to keep workers indefinitely if the do a good job. Many workers only know their native language and come to do basic work so should not expect high pay for this. Besides many foreign workers get free housing and sometimes free meals so if they were paid equal to local employees they would intact be making more than locals because locals for the most part have to pay their own housing and meals.
Also I think it is important to sign a contract for three years and not change a job, because employers need to train workers skills and if they only come for a few months to a year the company isn’t really benefiting from the learning curve. Unless the employer has acted unkindly or poor working conditions I think they should be loyal to the company for those three years. Perhaps the government can encourage companies to evaporate a bonus system for workers that meet or exceed expectations, but don’t make the policy so stiff, allow for flexibility because every business and situation is different.
Equal rights NOW
what in the world are you talking about , non- citizen interfering with our political economin social matters where is your head did your country philippines allows non- citizens to interfere in your political social and economic matters WAKE UP TO REALITY YOU PEOPLE KNOW YOUR STATUS
Nasa Kuwait k nmn eh bkit k nagko complain, you’re barking at the wrong tree
That’s Racism .. Can’t you understand what are they protesting, you better study your English lesson carefully, so that you will not misinterpreted this kind of News
Team Alamat – Alam-Lahat now who’s INTERFERING ? Why do you have to do that to the Philippine’s Senator !
hire them….edit
Did the Article said that the protesters are from Philippines only ? Why did you Single out the Filipino? There are Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thais …
Faith Ku our company does. We have about 20. And our secondary company is going to hire seven now too. I don’t know if our place is any better than anywhere else. But they have free housing and food.
Team Alamat – Alam-Lahat I understand and totally support the cause for civil rights, workers rights, right to unionize, rights of association but the first commenter is right about politics itself. No foreigner would be allowed to participate in the politics of your country. That’s not a racist sentiment. Its fact. It would be racist if he said even Taiwanese of Philippine ancestry/ ethnicity couldn’t participate in the political body. Its not racist for someone to not want foreigners involved in the politics of the country of their citizenship.
I hope that Taiwan Government will also abolish the 12 years limit of working here and make it no limit, as long as the worker still have the capability to work or if the worker not violating taiwan Law.
I am working here for more than 8 years now, and i have only 3 years more remaining,. I’m worried, if i end my contract (12 years) here, where would be my next? maybe staying in my homeland? Because some of us OFW’s Could hardly find a job.
Specially sa Pilipinas mahirapan ang isang ofw maghanap ng trabaho.
Jason Hunter Hire me..
Korek tlga caretaker depinde tlga sa employer yan,,