Foreign domestic workers are a common sight at the residences of government officials. The public is often made aware of this fact when these same domestic workers unwittingly become part of a major news event.
In 1996, a foreign domestic worker at the residence of Liu Pang-you (
Yet, when the domestic helpers are thrust into the public eye, one question is never asked by the media: how did they come to work for high-ranking officials in the first place?
According to government statistics, there are 6,300 foreign housekeepers with legal work permits. Given the demand for home help in Taiwan, this is not many.
And yet despite this shortage, it is common for high-ranking government officials to have foreign domestic workers, and some of them have more than two.
The current regulations on the application procedure for foreign domestic workers are strict and complicated.
Only those who live with relatives younger than six years old or older than 75 are qualified to apply to hire.
However, the rules and regulations apply only on paper. In practice, things are quite different.
The government's policies on the employment of foreign domestic workers have gone through many turns in recent years.
In 1992, the government first allowed 8,000 foreign housekeepers to work in Taiwan. Then, an applicant had to have six "points" to get approval for employment. (You got one point if you had a five- to six-year-old child, two points if you had a child of four to five.) Most high-ranking officials first made their applications at this time.
With demand far exceeding supply, in 1995, the government allowed another 8,000 foreign housekeepers into Taiwan. But this time, 16 points were required, which made satisfying the application rules almost impossible.
But those who had got permission to hire domestic help in 1992 needed only one extra point to renew their employment.
In view of the average financial situation and structure of Taiwan households, many are qualified to hire foreign domestic helpers, but because of the government's policy shift, these people are discriminated against.
Moreover, high-ranking officials still get permission to renew their maids' employment even when they fail to meet the requirements.
Foreign domestic helpers have become a symbol of privilege. High-ranking officials continue to take advantage of the law and the government turns a blind eye. Both should be investigated.
Shen Fu-hsiung is a legislator from the DPP.
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