The Council of Labor Affairs is mulling easing restrictions on foreign workers who work in the “3K” industries, while putting on hold a plan to open up the country to more foreign workers hired as caregivers and domestic help.
“3K” refers to jobs that involve manual labor, unsanitary or dangerous working conditions. Companies in the manufacturing, construction and high-tech industries are among the top employers of foreign workers given the difficulty of finding Taiwanese workers to fill these positions.
Last year the council cut the labor quotas for the 3K industries amid rising unemployment because of the global financial crisis. But with the economy recovering and factories boosting production, the council said demand for more foreign workers to ramp up production had increased.
Council officials said the plan had not been finalized and still needed to be discussed at a council meeting to evaluate foreign labor policies next week.
Another foreign labor policy that may be included on the agenda is a proposed amendment to the Employment Service Act (就業服務法) that would ease the requirements for a household to hire foreign help.
Council officials are considering easing the restrictions to enable more families to hire foreign workers as caregivers or domestic help. Foreign workers are popular among many Taiwanese families as they command lower wages.
Households have to comply with a number of criteria, including how many family members in the same residence need extra care, such as young children, the elderly, to be eligible to hire foreign workers.
If the council’s proposal passes, an estimated 2,000 more families would be allowed to hire foreign help. However, after encountering strong opposition from labor groups and caregiver organizations, council officials said they were considering shelving the plan for now.
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