TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Labor Minister Ho Pei-shan (何佩珊) on Thursday (Oct. 17) announced plans to extend maternity benefits to live-in foreign workers but acknowledged differing opinions within society. Ho spoke during a session at the Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee (立法院社會福利及衛生環境委員會), where legislators discussed improving the social support system for migrant workers.
Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislator Wang Yu-min (王育敏) highlighted Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) statistics, which showed 5,687 migrant workers received maternity benefits in 2023. However, Wang pointed out that 240,000 live-in foreign workers, including foreign care workers and home help, lacking labor insurance, cannot access these benefits if they give birth.
Wang questioned MOL's May commitment to include these workers in the maternity benefits scheme. The minister responded that the guidelines remain in development, citing the need for communication with various stakeholders, including employers, due to differing societal opinions. A recent incident in Hsinchu City, where a foreign caregiver gave birth at her employer's home, has heightened public concern over migrant workers' welfare.
