TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In response to the potential shift in undocumented migrant worker policy, the deputy labor minister explained on Thursday (Dec. 12) that the ministry is currently gathering opinions and has yet to implement concrete policies. The General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China (ROCCOC, 中華民國全國商業總會) has also contributed to the public discourse. Its chairman, Hsu Shu-po (許舒博), mentioned that the government is contemplating conditionally opening the service industry to migrant workers and exploring reintegrating runaway workers through formal procedures.
Deputy Labor Minister Chen Ming-ren (陳明仁) emphasized that the process involves legal amendments and opinion collection, and the Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) has the responsibility to conduct a comprehensive assessment. Chen clarified that the discussions are part of the opinion-gathering process, and stakeholders' views are varied, which means it may not necessarily become a national labor policy decision.
In response to ongoing debates about introducing migrant workers into the service sector, Chen stated that MOL has not made any promises. He added that the ministry plans to present a comprehensive assessment of the domestic labor situation after the Lunar New Year, prioritizing the employment of local workers. The Executive Yuan (行政院) reiterated the government's principle of prioritizing local workers when addressing labor shortages.
