Taiwan and Thailand signed a labor agreement in Bangkok yesterday to offer better protection for Thai nationals working in Taiwan.
The agreement was signed by Taipei's Representative to Thailand Huang Hsien-jung (
In a speech at the ceremony, Chen said she was pleased to see the signing of the agreement to protect Thai citizens from being exploited by manpower agents in both countries.
"The agreement marks a step forward in Taiwan-Thai cooperation in labor affairs," Chen said.
She said that as of the end of October, 117,701 Thais had worked in Taiwan, making the kingdom Taiwan's largest source of foreign laborers.
"Most of the Thai workers have maintained good working relationships with their employers," Chen said, adding that her country is grateful to the Thais for their contributions to its economic development.
Noting that the government attaches great importance to the protection of human rights, Chen said Taiwan offers foreign workers "the same rights as their local counterparts."
She said the new agreement means that Thais will no long have to pay exorbitant brokerage fees.
She also noted that Taiwan has set up 23 counseling service centers to help foreign workers resolve problems and to receive their complaints and appeals.
"Thai workers in Taiwan can dial 0800 direct phone numbers to file complaints in their own language," she said.
Chen said council staff regularly visit companies that have hired a large number of foreign workers to inspect the working environment and treatment of workers.
"Our labor council also subsidizes Thai-language radio programs and offers financial support for activities celebrating major Thai festivals as part of our efforts to improve the quality of life of Thai workers," she said.
The signing of the direct-hiring agreement had been delayed for three months because of a dispute over Chen's visa.
Chen said she was very pleased the accord has finally been signed.
After the ceremony, Chen held a news conference in which she called for the signing of a bilateral agreement on the exchange of prisoners.
She said 70 Thais are serving time in Taiwan, outnumbering the number of Taiwanese serving time in Thai prisons.
Chen said Thai workers convicted of criminal offenses cannot be exempted from punishment. But because of the distance and financial burden involved, she said, their families may be unable to visit them.
"In the end, they may lose contact with their families and even become homeless after their prison terms end," Chen said.
She suggested that the Thai government negotiate with the Ministry of Justice on a prisoner exchange pact, which would help boost human rights protection and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.
A two-day Taiwan-Thai labor conference also opened after the signing ceremony. Officials from the two sides were to discuss measures to streamline the procedure for getting Thai workers to Taiwan and protecting them from paying high brokerage fees.
Kuo Fong-yu (郭芳煜), director of the council's Employment and Vocational Training Administration, is Taipei's chief delegate at the conference.
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