Taiwan to recruit migrant workers for hotel and harbor jobs

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Intermediate-skilled migrant workers will be allowed to work at hotels and on harbor docks beginning early next year.

The Cabinet is scheduled to finalize a package of measures at its regular meeting. Under the plan, employers must raise the monthly salary of one Taiwanese worker by NT$2,000 (US$65) for each migrant worker hired, and the share of foreign employees under the program may not exceed 10% of a company’s workforce.

The government also plans to establish an international labor recruitment center to negotiate directly with foreign governments to bring in intermediate-skilled workers for the hotel and harbor sectors. Countries under consideration include Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand.

The system would run for three years, with another salary hike required before a migrant worker could continue for a second three-year term, according to Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung (陳時中). He estimated up to 200,000 Taiwanese workers could benefit.

Authorities also intend to relax the cap on the share of migrant workers eligible to be upgraded to intermediate-skilled status after six years. At present, only 25% of a company’s foreign employees can be promoted, while under the new policy, all would be eligible, Chen said.

In manufacturing, however, the combined total of basic-level, intermediate-skilled, and professional foreign workers may not exceed 50% of an employer’s workforce.

Migrant labor experts said improving working conditions should take priority over importing more workers. They also questioned whether the demand was for additional staff or simply more low-paid labor, noting low hotel wages deter young jobseekers and many Taiwanese from the sector.