To help make up for the labor shortage in the domestic market here in Taiwan, the Taiwan government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with India in February, declaring its willingness to employ migrant workers from India. To help the public better understand what the MOU entails, think tank Taiwan New Power (台灣新動力智庫) along with the Preparatory Office of the Taiwan India Association organized the Taiwan India Migrant Workers Conference (台、印移工會議－跨界影響下的勞工權益及文化理解) on March 21. The event brought together scholars, government officials, labor rights and industry representatives to provide their views on the MOU.
Gradual Introduction and No Crime Concerns
Ministry of Labor official Hu Hsin-yeh (胡欣野) explained that the signing of the MOU was completed via negotiations between representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian government, with Indian officials also viewing this cooperation as beneficial to them. In fact, she said, many countries around the world, including Germany, Italy and Israel, have introduced Indian migrant workers, generally considering them to be able and hard-working, with no concerns regarding crime or security.
Hu added that, before coming to Taiwan to work, migrant workers currently need to prepare a document for background checks, and they tend to avoid breaking the law because that would lead to deportation. Hu also said the crime rate among migrant workers was only half that of Taiwanese citizens, with the total number of crimes committed by migrant workers for 2022 recorded at 3,707, versus 244,214 for Taiwanese citizens.
Regarding concerns about the impact on Taiwan’s local employment, Hu explained that the Employment Service Act stipulates that “migrant workers cannot affect local employment. Employers must first seek local talent before hiring migrant workers.” With the opening up to Indian migrant workers by the ministry, the government is only adding another option to the existing options of workers coming from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. The Taiwan-India cooperation will not increase the overall number of migrant workers, nor will it relax employer qualifications or raise quota ratios, Hu said.
Responding to questions regarding the opening up of industries and the timing of introductions, Hu said the labor ministry will confirm the details in subsequent working-level meetings, but did not provide a specific timeline.
India’s Hindustan Times reports the potential migrant workers will probably be employed in areas facing a shortage of workers, such as manufacturing, construction and agriculture.
Hu explained that the labor ministry will introduce the Indian migrant workers to Taiwan gradually and pragmatically, and will first do a test run with a small group. The labor ministry hopes Indian migrant workers coming to Taiwan will possess certain education qualifications and be proficient in English. Taiwan will gradually open up further to Indian workers if they perform well.
Reality Check: Not Enough Protection
In terms of labor protection for migrant workers, Hu said the protection hotline 1995 is available and the labor ministry conducts annual screenings to identify high-risk employers.
In response to labor ministry’s statement, Lennon Wong (汪英達) of the Serve the People Association, expressed concerns about migrant workers’ current working conditions in Taiwan. Wong pointed out that the conditions of migrant workers in Taiwan have met all the indicators of labor exploitation set by the International Labour Organization.
Wong said the labor ministry’s statement on hiring local workers first before hiring migrant workers was a bluff, since employers in Taiwan would only recruit workers with a basic wage. Given India’s linguistic diversity, he said Taiwan currently does not have the ability to prepare itself to receive the Indian migrant workers.
Wong also expressed doubt over the government’s ability to follow through on its commitment to bring in migrant workers who have a certain level of education and English proficiency, asking why people with these skills would want to move to Taiwan for work.
What Taiwan Lacks
Fang Tien-sze (方天賜), vice chair of the Center for India Studies at National Tsing Hua University, voiced optimism when talking about Taiwan-India cooperation. But he said Taiwan will have to improve itself due to the recent criticism Minister of Labor Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春) received when she said Taiwan would prioritize hiring workers from India’s northeast region, because their “skin color and eating habits” were similar to those of Taiwanese people and they are “mostly Christians.”
From an academic standpoint, Fang pointed out three things that Taiwan currently lacks: “India does not exist in Taiwan’s academic landscape, the society and its people do not understand India, and this has resulted in discrimination and misunderstanding,” he said.
If Taiwan does want to bring in migrant workers from India and build a partnership with India, Fang said it needs to create a safe environment for the migrant workers to work in, and to consider coordination across different ministries. For example, as there are currently no direct flights between Taiwan and India, should plans be made in this regard? Additionally, after migrant workers come to Taiwan, Taiwan will need middle-level management proficient in two languages. This would require the participation of the Ministry of Education, he suggested.
Fang emphasized that Taiwan and India are strategic partners, as India is a leader in the software development, space and pharmaceutical industries. He said Taiwan should actively cooperate with India and consider India as a good neighbor.
Can Taiwan Face Its Reality?
If Taiwan and its government really want to show that it is a place where people from everywhere can call it home, maybe it is time to put in the hard work to improve things, starting with what it really lacks. Taiwan needs to answer some hard questions, such as: Is Taiwan really that inclusive? Can migrant workers make up for the labor shortage forever? Will employers continue to replace migrants who advocate for their rights? Based on past reports, there have been claims that the labor ministry leans towards the employer more when it comes to labor’s rights.
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