The Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC, 工商協進會) yesterday called on the government to ease labor rules, and allow manufactures and hospitality providers to hire migrant workers to tackle a labor shortage.
The trade group made the plea and other suggestions during a breakfast meeting with Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) and other Cabinet ministers.
CNAIC secretary James Chu (朱曦) said policymakers can lend a helping hand in easing labor shortages that have been plaguing the tourism sector, as well as manufacturers of textile and electrical products.
Photo: Peter Lo, Taipei Times
In particular, Chu cited Formosa International Hotels Corp (晶華國際酒店集團) chairman Steve Pan (潘思亮) as saying that popular hotels and restaurants are afraid of taking reservations not due to tepid business, but due to a lack of personnel.
Hospitality operators cannot find employees to fill vacancies even after raising wages moderately, which shows that the phenomenon requires solutions other than wage increases, Chu quoted Pan as saying.
Tourism operators have been calling on the government to ease labor rules so that they can hire migrant workers. Migrant workers can only work at factories, construction sites and as caregivers.
Cheng said the Cabinet would give the issue “positive consideration,” without elaborating.
Minister of Labor Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春) said the ministry has made efforts in talent matching, but the results have proven unsatisfactory, due to gaps over wage expectations.
The minister suggested that companies further raise wages and reduce qualification requirements by hiring middle-aged jobseekers, especially people who want to rejoin the workforce after spending time raising children.
The CNAIC said the government can mitigate labor shortages in the textile sector by stepping up efforts to recruit foreign talent, extending visa durations for migrant workers and increasing the number of conscripts performing alternative military service.
Surveys have shown that young people prefer to enter high-tech firms, which provide better compensation packages than non-tech companies, while high-tech firms complain about a lack of talent.
Policymakers should consider providing extra tax incentives, such as income tax breaks, to foreign talent and local companies hiring skilled foreign professionals, Chu said.
Companies could be allowed to list foreign professionals’ spousal travel expenses and their children’s school fees as expenses, Chu added.
The labor ministry should set up a Web site devoted to foreigners working in Taiwan to help attract foreign talent, the CNAIC said.
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