A foreign national and single father to a Taiwanese son is facing deportation for allegedly working illegally for the government-linked Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD) in a case that raises questions over how the government handled the case.
The problems for Ben Hlavaty, a US citizen, began when he and his Taiwanese spouse divorced in May 2008. Until then, Hlavaty had an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) through his marriage and did not need a work permit to work at the TFD, his employer since December 2007.
Aware that following his divorce his ARC would only be valid until Oct. 25 that year, Hlavaty informed his employer that if they wished him to continue working for them, TFD would have to help him apply for a work permit. The foundation subsequently contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), which founded the TFD in 2002, and asked it to assist Hlavaty.
Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei Times
On Oct. 20 the same year, MOFA sent a notice to the National Immigration Agency (NIA) informing it that the foundation was extending Hlavaty’s employment for one year, until Oct. 24, 2009, and that a work permit should be issued. Six days later, Hlavaty left Taiwan for Hong Kong to reapply for an ARC and a new certificate was issued.
In October the following year, MOFA once again submitted the paperwork to the NIA so that Hlavaty could work for another year, or until Oct. 24, 2010, which again was approved.
However, on Oct. 21, 2010, the TFD informed Hlavaty it wished to terminate his employment and sent a notice to MOFA requesting the extension of his ARC until Dec. 31.
Hlavaty says that Huang Teh-fu (黃德福), appointed new president of the foundation by the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), fired him without cause and denied him his three-month severance pay. Hlavaty filed a petition with the Taipei City Department of Labor for wrongful dismissal.
Hlavaty and the TFD reached a settlement following mediation. Hlavaty left Taiwan on Dec. 19, 2010, and re-entered on a multiple-entry visa in January last year.
However, in May, the city’s Department of Labor sent him a notice stating he was suspected of violating Article 43 of the Employment Services Act (就業服務法) during his employment at the TFD.
“[They] demanded an explanation as to why I had been illegally working during my three-year employment with the Foundation,” Hlavaty said in a press release yesterday.
Then, in July last year, he was fined NT$30,000 for not having a permit through the proper channels.”
“On the advice of civil servants, I submitted an appeal, believing that the mistake would clear up,” he wrote.
“Then the CLA [Council of Labor Affairs] slapped me with a three-year work ban and ordered me to leave Taiwan within fourteen days,” he wrote.
After a petition with the council’s appeals committee failed, Hlavaty turned to the Executive Yuan, which turned him down on the grounds that his appeal to the council was written incorrectly. It ordered the deportation procedures to continue.
After weeks in limbo, Hlavaty’s appeal with the Taipei High Administrative Court was turned down on Thursday last week.
An official with the court told the Taipei Times yesterday that Hlavaty would soon receive the ruling document, adding that he could appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court.
Hlavaty maintains he did nothing wrong.
“[My defense] produced copies of my labor insurance from my foundation days, which must have meant that the Bureau of Labor Insurance, who [sic] is subordinate to the CLA, had found me legal during those three years,” he wrote.
“If I am going to be separated from my boy for my work in promoting Taiwan’s democracy and human rights at the request of MOFA, then I will go down fighting as an example to Isaac,” he wrote.
Hlavaty has dual custody of his son with his former wife.
Additional reporting by Rich Chang, with translation by Jake Chung, Staff Writer
Kenting National Park service technician Yang Jien-fon (楊政峰) won a silver award in World Grand Prix Photography Awards Spring Season for his photograph of two male rat snakes intertwined in combat. Yang’s colleagues at Kenting National Park said he is a master of nature photography who has been held back by his job in civil service. The awards accept entries in all four seasons across six categories: architectural and urban photography, black-and-white and fine art photography, commercial and fashion photography, documentary and people photography, nature and experimental photography, and mobile photography. Awards are ranked according to scores and divided into platinum, gold and
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday said it opposes the introduction of migrant workers from India until a mechanism is in place to prevent workers from absconding. Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) on Thursday told the Legislative Yuan that the first group of migrant workers from India could be introduced as early as this year, as part of a government program. The caucus’ opposition to the policy is based on the assessment that “the risk is too high,” KMT caucus secretary-general Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said. Taiwan has a serious and long-standing problem of migrant workers absconding from their contracts, indicating that
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
TRADE-OFF: Beijing seeks to trade a bowl of tempura for a Chinese delicacy, an official said, while another said its promises were attempts to interfere in the polls The government must carefully consider the national security implications of building a bridge connecting Kinmen County and Xiamen, China, the Public Construction Commission (PCC) said yesterday. PCC Commissioner Derek Chen (陳金德), who is also a minister without portfolio, made the remarks in a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, after Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Hsu Fu-kuei (徐富癸) asked about China’s proposal of new infrastructure projects to further connect Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties with Xiamen. China unveiled the bridge plan, along with nine other policies for Taiwan, on Sunday, the last day of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s (鄭麗文) visit
RSS