Employer Groups Criticize Migrant Worker System's Imbalance, Protest for Zero Care Gaps
Employer groups in Taiwan criticized the migrant worker system for neglecting employer rights and rallied on Ketagalan Boulevard, demanding the government review the system, halt the collection of employment stabilization fees, and ensure zero care gaps.
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- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 14:51
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- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 2, 2026 at 15:03 (1 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Hsin-Yun, Taipei, 2nd) Questioning whether the migrant worker employment system ignores employer rights, the Taiwan Association for Families with Disabled Persons (TEATPD) today rallied migrant worker employers from various industries on Ketagalan Boulevard, shouting "Protect Taiwanese Employers" and calling on the government to comprehensively review the system, stop collecting employment stabilization fees, and ensure zero care gaps.
Following migrant worker and labor rights activities related to Labor Day on May 1st, the Taiwan International Association of Family Employers and Caregivers for the Disabled designated May 2nd as "Employer Day." Factory workers, fishermen, and agricultural migrant worker employers gathered for a large assembly on Ketagalan Boulevard, advocating for migrant worker employer rights with the theme of "Taiwan First, Zero Care Gaps, No Collapse of Economic Livelihoods."
Zhang Heng-Yan, Chairperson of the Taiwan International Association of Family Employers and Caregivers for the Disabled, stated that Taiwan's migrant worker system has existed for over 30 years but always prioritizes migrant worker rights, neglecting the employer's role. Often, shortly after migrant workers are introduced, they abscond, creating a staffing gap for employers.
Zhang Heng-Yan said that for migrant worker policies to be sustainable, they cannot just demand employers pay and take responsibility without corresponding systemic guarantees. She put forward three demands: zero care gaps, halting the collection of family employment stabilization fees, migrant workers must fulfill their employment contracts, and opposing the transfer of migrant workers' arrival costs to employers.
Zhang Mu-Teng, Chairperson of the Chinese Taipei Spinal Cord Injury Association, said that when there is a spinal cord injured person in a family, the entire family must pour resources into care. When applying for migrant worker care, an additional NT$2,000 employment stabilization fee must be paid each month, which accumulates into a large expenditure over time and is a significant burden for vulnerable employers.
Lin Jin-Hsing, Chairperson of the Spinal Cord Injury Potential Development Center, stated that severely disabled families need assistance 24 hours a day, but ironically cannot enjoy care under national policies and must pay more. The migrant workers themselves are not the problem; the problem lies in the policy. There is poor communication between ministries and agencies; the Ministry of Labor does not understand care, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare pretends nothing is wrong. This division of labor results in employers not being able to obtain suitable services.
Regarding the Taiwan-US Equivalent Trade Agreement (ART), which stipulates that Taiwan will prohibit collecting recruitment fees from manufacturing and fishery migrant workers within three years, Lin Qi-Tsang, Secretary-General of the National Fishermen's Association, said this would cause a significant impact and effect on the industry. The rights of vulnerable employers should not become bargaining chips for the government in international negotiations. The "zero-fee policy for migrant workers" should be paid by "whoever promises it."
Regarding the zero-fee policy for migrant workers, Zhang Heng-Yan stated that protecting labor rights is necessary, but not at the expense of Taiwanese employers. If the US truly made such a request, an investigation should first be conducted to confirm the fee status and amounts in other countries.
Zhang Heng-Yan said that employers are not ATMs. A truly responsible migrant worker reform is not pushing costs to the weakest party but allowing migrant workers, employers, and Taiwanese society to continue under a fair system.
In response to the demands made by employer groups, the Ministry of Labor responded that regarding the demand for care gaps raised by family employers, it will collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to propose a "Family Employer Support Program" and related配套 measures to address the pressure of family care. The aim is to gradually assist family employers' needs in three directions: "increasing management support, reducing staffing gaps, and decreasing administrative burden."
In addition, regarding the trend of connecting with international fair recruitment for industrial migrant workers, the government has sought a three-year adjustment period and will propose concrete配套 measures to assist enterprises in gradually transforming their employment models to meet international supply chain requirements. (Edited by Li Hen-Shan) 1150502
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(Central News Agency reporter Wu Hsin-Yun, Taipei, 2nd) Questioning whether the migrant worker employment system ignores employer rights, the Taiwan Association for Families with Disabled Persons (TEATPD) today rallied migrant worker employers from various industries on Ketagalan Boulevard, shouting "Protect Taiwanese Employers" and calling on the government to comprehensively review the system, stop collecting employment stabilization fees, and ensure zero care gaps.
Following migrant worker and labor rights activities related to Labor Day on May 1st, the Taiwan International Association of Family Employers and Caregivers for the Disabled designated May 2nd as "Employer Day." Factory workers, fishermen, and agricultural migrant worker employers gathered for a large assembly on Ketagalan Boulevard, advocating for migrant worker employer rights with the theme of "Taiwan First, Zero Care Gaps, No Collapse of Economic Livelihoods."
Zhang Heng-Yan, Chairperson of the Taiwan International Association of Family Employers and Caregivers for the Disabled, stated that Taiwan's migrant worker system has existed for over 30 years but always prioritizes migrant worker rights, neglecting the employer's role. Often, shortly after migrant workers are introduced, they abscond, creating a staffing gap for employers.
Zhang Heng-Yan said that for migrant worker policies to be sustainable, they cannot just demand employers pay and take responsibility without corresponding systemic guarantees. She put forward three demands: zero care gaps, halting the collection of family employment stabilization fees, migrant workers must fulfill their employment contracts, and opposing the transfer of migrant workers' arrival costs to employers.
Zhang Mu-Teng, Chairperson of the Chinese Taipei Spinal Cord Injury Association, said that when there is a spinal cord injured person in a family, the entire family must pour resources into care. When applying for migrant worker care, an additional NT$2,000 employment stabilization fee must be paid each month, which accumulates into a large expenditure over time and is a significant burden for vulnerable employers.
Lin Jin-Hsing, Chairperson of the Spinal Cord Injury Potential Development Center, stated that severely disabled families need assistance 24 hours a day, but ironically cannot enjoy care under national policies and must pay more. The migrant workers themselves are not the problem; the problem lies in the policy. There is poor communication between ministries and agencies; the Ministry of Labor does not understand care, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare pretends nothing is wrong. This division of labor results in employers not being able to obtain suitable services.
Regarding the Taiwan-US Equivalent Trade Agreement (ART), which stipulates that Taiwan will prohibit collecting recruitment fees from manufacturing and fishery migrant workers within three years, Lin Qi-Tsang, Secretary-General of the National Fishermen's Association, said this would cause a significant impact and effect on the industry. The rights of vulnerable employers should not become bargaining chips for the government in international negotiations. The "zero-fee policy for migrant workers" should be paid by "whoever promises it."
Regarding the zero-fee policy for migrant workers, Zhang Heng-Yan stated that protecting labor rights is necessary, but not at the expense of Taiwanese employers. If the US truly made such a request, an investigation should first be conducted to confirm the fee status and amounts in other countries.
Zhang Heng-Yan said that employers are not ATMs. A truly responsible migrant worker reform is not pushing costs to the weakest party but allowing migrant workers, employers, and Taiwanese society to continue under a fair system.
In response to the demands made by employer groups, the Ministry of Labor responded that regarding the demand for care gaps raised by family employers, it will collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to propose a "Family Employer Support Program" and related配套 measures to address the pressure of family care. The aim is to gradually assist family employers' needs in three directions: "increasing management support, reducing staffing gaps, and decreasing administrative burden."
In addition, regarding the trend of connecting with international fair recruitment for industrial migrant workers, the government has sought a three-year adjustment period and will propose concrete配套 measures to assist enterprises in gradually transforming their employment models to meet international supply chain requirements. (Edited by Li Hen-Shan) 1150502
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download Central News Agency's "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or utilized without authorization.