TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's undocumented migrant worker numbers surged to 90,000 as of January 2025, with over half in the manufacturing sector, according to the Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部). Experts argue that Taiwan's migrant worker policies have stagnated, urging comprehensive consideration of current conditions to address the labor shortage crisis.
Taiwan has hosted migrant workers for over 30 years, with 800,000 currently in the country. They play a crucial role in the industrial and long-term care sectors. However, poor working conditions have driven many to flee, seeking better opportunities despite facing numerous obstacles.
Chen Hsiu-lien (陳秀蓮), chairperson of the Taiwan International Workers' Association (TIWA, 台灣國際勞工協會), criticized the current long-term care system for not providing sufficient protections for both employers and caregivers. This situation has strained both parties, leading to a cycle of exhaustion and frustration, she said.
In addition, Control Yuan member Wang Yu-ling (王幼玲) noted that the wage disparity between legal and illegal workers incentivizes the shift to unlawful status.”Legal migrant workers only get base salary, plus overtime pay, but illegal migrant workers make money based on market mechanisms,” she said.
“In the manufacturing sector, the starting salary is NT$40,000, but legal migrant workers receive less than NT$30,000. This NT$10,000 gap serves as a strong incentive for them to work illegally,” she explained.
Local authorities have raised concerns about legalizing undocumented migrant workers, fearing it could encourage illegal behavior and exacerbate the issue. Labor officials later held discussions with relevant groups late last year, but the proposal was met with significant backlash.
Su Yu-kuo (蘇裕國), head of the Workforce Management Division (勞動力發展署), stressed that opinions on legalizing undocumented migrant workers vary among stakeholders since this issue involves potential amendments to employment and immigration laws. Experts called for ongoing government efforts to gather public input for further discussions.
