Taiwan clarifies worker protection

The Jakarta Post's Oct. 30 article titled RI workers exploited in Taiwan carried a statement to the effect that the government of Taiwan was not doing enough to protect foreign workers. That is untrue.

The Taiwan government treats foreign workers like its own nationals. It not only protects their minimum wages (NT$15,840 equals Rp 4,752,000) and labor rights but also allows them to join its national health insurance program. No wonder foreign workers like to work in Taiwan. For example, the number of Indonesian workers in Taiwan has increased from 50,000 to 91,394 in just one year. If Indonesian workers are exploited in Taiwan, how can it be that so many Indonesians want to work there?

To further protect foreign workers, the Taiwan government has recently made the following regulations:

- Taiwan manpower agencies are prohibited from collecting a placement fee after foreign workers have arrived

- The placement fee of foreign manpower agencies should be less than NT$15,840

- Every Taiwan-bound worker should hand in a fees & salary declaration form after arrival.

In the case of violation of the collection of fees by manpower agencies or the failure of an employer to pay salary owed, the foreign worker may request that Taiwan's Council of Labor Affairs investigate the matter. Indonesian workers can call 0800-885-958 for language assistance in Indonesian.

DEREK HSU

Director Information Division

Taipei Economic and Trade Office

Jakarta