Legislative Yuan Third Reading Exempts Foreign Workers’ Exit Requirement Lessens Employer’s Window Period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Legislative Yuan has passed the Employment Services Amendment Act in its Third Reading today, removing the requirement that foreign workers should leave the country for one day and will be allowed to re-enter after three years of employment. This will reduce the employers’ “window period” and foreign workers will not have to pay placement fees for re-entry. The Ministry of Labor estimates that each year, some 14,000 migrant workers will benefit from the new law.

This is to avoid a “window period” of nearly a month (the period from migrant worker’s exit and re-entry).for those who are in need of care and exempt the worker from the financial burden of re-entry.

The Third Reading by the Legislative Yuan today which approves the amendments to Article 52 of the Employment Service Act will remove a clause requiring the migrant workers to return to their home countries after three years of employment for at least one day in order to be eligible to renew their work contracts, thus reducing their employers’ “window period” and relieves the migrant workers from another placement fee payment.

In this regard, the proposal of the Democratic Progressive Party legislator Wu Yu-Chin said the migrant workers do not have to exit after 3 years, being exploited of placement fee, each time for about NT75,000 to 180,000.  The United States has repeatedly pointed out that the situation of the exploitation of foreign workers in Taiwan is serious. I hope that after the Third Reading today, we will be able to end the situation in which nearly 600,000 workers in Taiwan have been exploited for almost 24 years.

The Ministry of Labor recently pointed out that the number of foreign workers required to leave the country before the revision was 14,000 per year, while the placement fees and other additional fees vary from country to country. Indonesia totals between NT$50,000 to NT$54,000 and Vietnam amounts to NT$120,000.

The Ministry of Labor said that this amendment, in the case of caregivers, the employer's “window period” can be avoided, also, it can reduce training costs. In the industrial foreign labor point of view, employers can avail the flexible use of manpower to a certain extent. It also further improves the protection of foreign workers’ human rights.

The New Affairs Social Service Center is a social service organization dedicated to caring for disadvantaged individuals in the workplace, striving to promote a society where resources are shared for the common good. They have long been committed to improving the quality of life for migrant workers and elderly care, co-creating a harmonious society for migrant workers and employers. They help marginalized groups who suffer from exploitation and injustice, and they invite you to become their guardians. Your donation will help these vulnerable individuals in overcoming their difficulties and obtaining assistance for their rights. Please click(“I want to donate") or call (02) 2397-1933 #122. Thank you for your response and concern!