TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Tourism Administration (觀光署), Taiwan's government agency overseeing tourism affairs, unveiled plans on Tuesday (May 27) to partially open the hospitality sector to foreign workers amid a critical labor shortage. Officials have reached an agreement with the Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部) on this initiative, with comprehensive implementation details expected to be announced later this year. The tourism industry currently struggles with a post-pandemic workforce deficit of approximately 8,000 employees, with 5,500 vacancies specifically in housekeeping and cleaning positions.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), the head of Taiwan's executive branch, highlighted the government's dedication to implementing new labor policies during his address at the Taipei Tourism Exposition (台北國際觀光博覽會) last Friday. This strategic initiative seeks to address workforce shortages across multiple sectors by drawing more international workers to Taiwan. Tourism Administration Director General Chou Yung-hui (周永暉) explained that the program will include specific requirements for foreign workers, such as language proficiency standards, and employers will need to meet certain qualifications to participate in what will likely be a project-based implementation.
Despite the administration's proactive approach, Chou candidly acknowledged that the stringent conditions for hiring foreign workers might deter some employers from participating in the program. This uncertainty has prevented officials from providing concrete estimates regarding how many of the current vacancies might ultimately be filled through this initiative. The upcoming detailed announcement from the Ministry of Labor will clarify the specific requirements and scope of this potentially transformative plan for Taiwan's hospitality sector. ◼
