Foreign Student Hotel Interns Cannot Join Labor/Health Insurance Due to Non-Employment Status, Says Tourism Administration
In response to a Control Yuan investigation into labor rights disputes involving foreign student interns in hotels, the Tourism Administration stated that interns cannot join labor and health insurance due to the lack of an employment relationship, but mandatory group insurance offers sufficient protection.
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- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 20:42
- 🔍 Collected: June 13, 2026 at 00:45 (4h 3m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 13, 2026 at 05:13 (4h 28m after Collected)
(CNA reporter Huang Chiao-wen, Taipei, 12th) Regarding the Control Yuan's investigation into labor rights disputes involving foreign students in the "6+6 internship program" in the hospitality industry, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) revised its guidelines but did not mandate social insurance. The Tourism Administration stated that because there is no employment relationship with hotels, interns cannot join labor and health insurance; however, covering them with group insurance already effectively protects their rights.
To address the manpower shortage in Taiwan's tourism industry, the government relaxed the duration rules for foreign students applying for internships in the tourism and hotel industries (the 6+6 program). In 2024, a total of 2,328 foreign students were approved for internships in regular and tourist hotels. Control Yuan member Yeh Ta-hua and others initiated an investigation last year after observing labor rights disputes, such as the lack of labor and health insurance and employers confiscating passports. They found that although the MOTC had amended the relevant internship guidelines to protect the rights of foreign interns, it failed to mandate social insurance, leaving the level of protection insufficient. Moreover, instances of foreign interns having their passports withheld or being charged agency fees still occur in practice.
The MOTC's Tourism Administration explained via a message today that to protect the rights of foreign interns, it has stipulated in the internship guidelines that hotels must provide them with appropriate insurance. Currently, hotels have enrolled interns in group insurance, which covers injury, occupational disaster, and occupational injury/illness. Hotels have also submitted the insurance policies to the Tourism Administration for reference as required.
The Tourism Administration pointed out that foreign interns coming to Taiwan are not considered to be working and do not have an employment relationship with the hotels, thus they cannot participate in labor and health insurance. These regulations involve the Labor Insurance Act and the National Health Insurance Act, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Labor Insurance and the National Health Insurance Administration, and cannot be regulated by the Tourism Administration's internship guidelines. However, since hotels are already providing appropriate coverage such as group insurance in accordance with the Administration's guidelines, the rights of the interns are effectively protected.
Regarding the confiscation of passports and the collection of agency fees from foreign interns, the Tourism Administration stated that after consulting with hotel operators, hotels generally do not collect passports from foreign interns. Passports are only collected and kept for safekeeping with the students' consent when assisting with residence permit applications or if students are concerned about losing them. In addition, all fees related to commissioned domestic agencies are borne by the hotel operators.
However, the Tourism Administration noted that operators have heard of some foreign agencies in the students' home countries collecting fees. Since this is the behavior of overseas businesses, it is beyond the regulatory reach of the Taiwanese government and hotel operators. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150612
To address the manpower shortage in Taiwan's tourism industry, the government relaxed the duration rules for foreign students applying for internships in the tourism and hotel industries (the 6+6 program). In 2024, a total of 2,328 foreign students were approved for internships in regular and tourist hotels. Control Yuan member Yeh Ta-hua and others initiated an investigation last year after observing labor rights disputes, such as the lack of labor and health insurance and employers confiscating passports. They found that although the MOTC had amended the relevant internship guidelines to protect the rights of foreign interns, it failed to mandate social insurance, leaving the level of protection insufficient. Moreover, instances of foreign interns having their passports withheld or being charged agency fees still occur in practice.
The MOTC's Tourism Administration explained via a message today that to protect the rights of foreign interns, it has stipulated in the internship guidelines that hotels must provide them with appropriate insurance. Currently, hotels have enrolled interns in group insurance, which covers injury, occupational disaster, and occupational injury/illness. Hotels have also submitted the insurance policies to the Tourism Administration for reference as required.
The Tourism Administration pointed out that foreign interns coming to Taiwan are not considered to be working and do not have an employment relationship with the hotels, thus they cannot participate in labor and health insurance. These regulations involve the Labor Insurance Act and the National Health Insurance Act, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Labor Insurance and the National Health Insurance Administration, and cannot be regulated by the Tourism Administration's internship guidelines. However, since hotels are already providing appropriate coverage such as group insurance in accordance with the Administration's guidelines, the rights of the interns are effectively protected.
Regarding the confiscation of passports and the collection of agency fees from foreign interns, the Tourism Administration stated that after consulting with hotel operators, hotels generally do not collect passports from foreign interns. Passports are only collected and kept for safekeeping with the students' consent when assisting with residence permit applications or if students are concerned about losing them. In addition, all fees related to commissioned domestic agencies are borne by the hotel operators.
However, the Tourism Administration noted that operators have heard of some foreign agencies in the students' home countries collecting fees. Since this is the behavior of overseas businesses, it is beyond the regulatory reach of the Taiwanese government and hotel operators. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150612