Chen rules out Chinese labor imports

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday that he will never allow domestic businessmen to import Chinese laborers during his term.

The president made the remarks at a campaign rally sponsored by the Nantou County Workers' Union, which had expressed concern about unemployment.

Chen said that he "has 100 percent confidence" about winning the March 20 election, although he added that one should never let one's guard down.

Addressing concerns as to when the economy will rebound, Chen stressed that although Taiwan's economic growth of 3.59 percent last year was "not satisfactory," it was "far better" than the 2.2 percent growth in Singapore, 2.3 percent growth in Hong Kong and 0.3 percent growth in Japan.

Chen said that when he assumed office in May 2000, the global economy was sluggish, but he noted that Taiwan has overcome the most difficult times during the past three years.

He expressed confidence that economic growth next year will reach 5 percent, while the jobless rate will drop below 4.5 percent, dropping to 4 percent in 2005.

He said that to protect domestic laborers, he would not increase the quotas for foreign labor imports and would never allow the import of Chinese laborers.