More than 10,000 foreigners have been detained since 1991 for running out on their contracts or working illegally, according to statistics released yesterday by the National Police Administration (NPA).
Among the 10,858 were 7,397 men and 3,461 women. Workers from Thailand made up the highest number of cases at 4,075, followed by workers from the Philippines at 2,993, and Indonesians at 1,265.
The figures exclude people from China.
The agency said that the influx of foreign laborers has increased annually.
According to the Immigration Law (入出國移民法) detention is necessary for those foreigners who have been expelled and have yet to complete their exit procedures, those who have entered the country illegally or who are wanted by foreign governments, or those who the authorities believe should be given protection for the time being.
The police said that they sheltered 454 foreigners last year -- 176 men and 278 women -- compared with 463 foreigners, or 191 men and 272 women, in 2001.
Police said that the number of women put in detention has been greater than men since 2001
That's mainly because the number of female caregivers has increased rapidly in recent years, police said.
Police also detained 2,032 Chinese citizens (826 men and 1,206 women) last year, mostly for illegal entry.
The NPA said that if foreigners are detained and put in detention because they have to process their travel documents, obtain travel expenses, or track down their illegal employers, they could be repatriated in roughly two months.
If they are involved in criminal cases, they will have to wait until the completion of the judicial process before being repatriated.
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