TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Minister of Labor, Hsu Ming-chun, clarified on Wednesday (Oct. 18) that the nation's workforce will remain a priority should the Executive Yuan approve the employment of migrant workers in the hospitality industry.
She said essential discussions would be held only after the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) makes a proposal.
Hsu emphatically reminded the public that there has yet to be a set timetable for employing foreign laborers in hospitality work, adding that the entire process requires further deliberation.
The Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions had voiced opposition to importing a vast number of foreign laborers, urging the government to provide more assistance for the industry and promote industrial upgrading instead of turning to the employment of migrant workers as a final resolution.
"No sectors in the service industry are open to migrant workers at this stage," Hsu reiterated, adding that whether this is to change calls for policy discussions among different government departments.
The current data reports a labor shortage of over 1,000 in the hospitality industry. Although the MOL has recommended five times the number of needed workers, the matching rate is less than 10%.
Hsu urged hospitality business owners who insist older job-seekers and women re-entering the workforce are unfit for the jobs to change their mindset.
She called on the companies to provide better job opportunities to local workers and cooperate in solving the labor shortage.
