Taipei City Foreign and Disabled Labor Office, Taiwan. Photo: Google Maps
Taipei City Foreign and Disabled Labor Office, Taiwan. Photo: Google Maps

More than 7,000 cases of migrant workers requiring legal advice were handled by the Taipei City Foreign and Disabled Labor Office in the latter half of 2017, according to the latest statistics.

There are about 46,000 migrant workers in Taipei City, 94% of whom are employed as domestic or institutional caregivers, as well as domestic helpers, Commercial Times reported, citing Yeh Hsiu-shan, head of the labor office.

By nationality, 74% of the total population of migrant workers were Indonesians in the second half of last year, she added.

Between July and December 2017, 675 labor disputes were settled with the help of the office, with employee monitoring by various means the top reason for the conflicts.

Some employers were also accused of failing to provide meals fulfilling religious requirements, while others blocked employees’ communications by taking away their mobile phones, failed to allow sufficient rest time or differed with their workers regarding paid annual leave days.

The No 2 cause of labor disputes was alleged misbehavior by employment agencies, usually involving exorbitant fees, withholding salaries or passports without prior approval from the workers, and deducting service charges from their wages.

Around NT$1.72 million (US$59,000) was retrieved by the office on behalf of the victimized workers.

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