Easing Foreign Domestic Helper Applications: Ministry of Labor Estimates Monthly Work Hours for In-Home Caregivers to Decrease by 20 Hours
Taiwan's Ministry of Labor announced an easing of application conditions for foreign domestic helpers. This move is estimated to reduce the monthly working hours of local in-home caregivers by up to 20 hours. The policy aims to address the shortage in the domestic service market.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 20:28
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 21:02 (33 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 21:22 (20 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Hsin-yun, Taipei, 7th) The easing of foreign domestic helper applications has raised concerns about its impact on related local employment. The Ministry of Labor stated that, with an employment rate of 5.5% and without supporting measures, nannies' monthly working hours could decrease by up to 19.4 hours. However, it also admitted uncertainty about how many people will apply after the relaxation, making the employment rate an estimate.
The Executive Yuan's easing of foreign domestic helper application conditions, allowing households with children under 12 to apply, has sparked concerns about its potential impact on local workers. Members of the Executive Yuan's Gender Equality Committee previously proposed an impact assessment, and the Ministry of Labor presented its assessment report at today's Gender Equality Committee meeting.
Based on last year's foreign domestic helper employment rate of 5.5%, the Ministry of Labor calculated that, without supporting measures, in-home nannies would see a monthly reduction of 14.5 to 19.4 hours in working time, while in-home childcare providers would experience an average monthly reduction of 12.1 to 19.4 hours.
Regarding domestic service workers, the assessment report also pointed out that domestic service work is limited by the nature of labor supply, with most services being daytime and short-term. It is difficult for domestic service workers to provide immediate assistance for nighttime or temporary household needs, indicating an overall market with insufficient supply flexibility.
The assessment report shows that the current domestic service market has a demand greater than supply. The foreign domestic helper system can appropriately supplement service capacity, but it may affect the existing service hours of local domestic service workers. The assessment indicates that, without supporting measures, each person's average monthly working hours would decrease by 6 hours.
Lee Chien-hung, Deputy Minister of Labor, told the media that the 5.5% foreign domestic helper employment rate was calculated based on last year's employment situation. This is the first major relaxation of application qualifications in 20 years, and it is uncertain whether the actual employment rate will be 5.5% or how many people will apply after the relaxation. Therefore, this figure is currently used for estimation.
Lee Chien-hung also said that the assessment report shows reduced hours mainly because multiple groups consulted indicated that both childcare and domestic service workers are project-based. Easing foreign domestic helper application qualifications does not directly cause unemployment but reduces existing project and service hours.
Lee Chien-hung stated that the reduced hours shown in the report are estimates under the assumption of no supporting measures. Currently, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health and Welfare have proposed supporting measures, hoping to reduce the impact by 40% to 50%. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150507
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(Central News Agency reporter Wu Hsin-yun, Taipei, 7th) The easing of foreign domestic helper applications has raised concerns about its impact on related local employment. The Ministry of Labor stated that, with an employment rate of 5.5% and without supporting measures, nannies' monthly working hours could decrease by up to 19.4 hours. However, it also admitted uncertainty about how many people will apply after the relaxation, making the employment rate an estimate.
The Executive Yuan's easing of foreign domestic helper application conditions, allowing households with children under 12 to apply, has sparked concerns about its potential impact on local workers. Members of the Executive Yuan's Gender Equality Committee previously proposed an impact assessment, and the Ministry of Labor presented its assessment report at today's Gender Equality Committee meeting.
Based on last year's foreign domestic helper employment rate of 5.5%, the Ministry of Labor calculated that, without supporting measures, in-home nannies would see a monthly reduction of 14.5 to 19.4 hours in working time, while in-home childcare providers would experience an average monthly reduction of 12.1 to 19.4 hours.
Regarding domestic service workers, the assessment report also pointed out that domestic service work is limited by the nature of labor supply, with most services being daytime and short-term. It is difficult for domestic service workers to provide immediate assistance for nighttime or temporary household needs, indicating an overall market with insufficient supply flexibility.
The assessment report shows that the current domestic service market has a demand greater than supply. The foreign domestic helper system can appropriately supplement service capacity, but it may affect the existing service hours of local domestic service workers. The assessment indicates that, without supporting measures, each person's average monthly working hours would decrease by 6 hours.
Lee Chien-hung, Deputy Minister of Labor, told the media that the 5.5% foreign domestic helper employment rate was calculated based on last year's employment situation. This is the first major relaxation of application qualifications in 20 years, and it is uncertain whether the actual employment rate will be 5.5% or how many people will apply after the relaxation. Therefore, this figure is currently used for estimation.
Lee Chien-hung also said that the assessment report shows reduced hours mainly because multiple groups consulted indicated that both childcare and domestic service workers are project-based. Easing foreign domestic helper application qualifications does not directly cause unemployment but reduces existing project and service hours.
Lee Chien-hung stated that the reduced hours shown in the report are estimates under the assumption of no supporting measures. Currently, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health and Welfare have proposed supporting measures, hoping to reduce the impact by 40% to 50%. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150507
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.