President William Lai Ching-te of Taiwan has begun his four-year term, and Southeast Asian migrant domestic workers on the island are hopeful that he will implement labor reforms to improve their working conditions. With over 760,000 foreign workers in Taiwan, many of whom are from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, these workers play a crucial role in sectors such as healthcare and elderly care as Taiwan’s population ages.
However, migrant domestic workers are facing challenges, such as exclusion from the recent minimum wage increase and high recruitment fees that are deducted from their salaries. Bonny Ling from Work Better Innovations advocates for employers to cover these recruitment costs, questioning the value placed on low-wage work.
As Taiwan approaches becoming a “super-aged society,” the role of migrant caregivers becomes increasingly important as families rely on them to care for their elderly relatives. Three Southeast Asian caregivers in Taiwan shared their experiences, highlighting issues such as high recruitment fees, monthly broker fees, and limited contract lengths.
Anggi Sofiasyah Lacuba from Indonesia expressed support for abolishing recruitment agents in Taiwan but also raised concerns about handling administrative tasks without their assistance. Sandra Suril from the Philippines called for the removal of broker fees to help workers save money, while Miean Coilan, also from the Philippines, emphasized the desire for unlimited contract lengths for migrant workers who want to continue working in Taiwan.
As President Lai’s administration settles in, these caregivers are hopeful for reforms that will address their concerns and improve their working conditions in Taiwan.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
