Taipei: Taiwanese scholars have expressed the need for Taiwan to enhance protections for lower-wage migrant workers as the nation seeks recognition as a developed country. This call to action follows a U.S. order suspending imports from Taiwan-based Giant Manufacturing Co. due to allegations of forced labor.
According to Focus Taiwan, Chen Li-yi, an assistant professor at the Department of Labor and Human Resources at Chinese Culture University in Taipei, emphasized that Taiwan must ensure the protection of migrant workers’ human rights if it aspires to be recognized as a developed nation. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s issuance of a withhold release order (WRO) against Giant was intended to encourage better working conditions for migrant laborers.
Chen highlighted that Taiwan’s system for managing migrant workers remains a government-to-government arrangement, contrasting with advanced economies where employment is based on private agreements. He also pointed out that cultural differences influence labor conditions, as seen in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s experience in the United States.
Lin Chun-yu, an assistant professor at the Department of Social Work at Soochow University in Taipei, noted that while industrial workers in Taiwan have relatively better protections, caregivers and fishery workers face challenges. She indicated that there has been improvement in Taiwan’s attitude toward migrant-worker rights, though some areas still require progress.
In response to the U.S. action, Giant Manufacturing Co. denied allegations of debt-bonded labor and mistreatment of migrant workers. The company stated that wages are paid promptly with bilingual payslips and legally calculated overtime pay, and its working environment adheres to safety standards. Giant also mentioned that it provides adequate living conditions for its workers and plans to meet U.S. representatives to clarify the situation.
Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin remarked on Taiwan’s efforts to improve care for foreign workers and mentioned ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Labor to enhance living and working conditions. Giant announced the implementation of a “zero recruitment fee policy” starting in January 2025, covering all recruitment-related costs for foreign workers.
Meanwhile, Merida Industry Co., Taiwan’s second-largest bicycle manufacturer, plans to adopt a “zero fee policy” by October 2025 and aims to reimburse workers for previous recruitment costs.
