Exploiting foreign workers
The greed of many Taiwanese involved in brokerage firms handling foreign laborers is truly sickening. Fees of up to NT$220,000 for the right to work long hours at ludicrously low salaries with minimal government protection? It adds up to hundreds of millions of NT dollars stolen from desperate workers who are trying to feed their families back home.
For processing a few papers, these firms charge exorbitant fees, which foreign laborers must work years for to pay. This means that most workers earn nothing for at least two years, despite working full time. Taiwanese should be ashamed.
One wonders if the government is in collusion with these brokerage firms. Why else would a democratic government allow such shameless exploitation of these workers?
Why are there no charitable organizations offering the same service at a small fraction of the current fees? Indonesia decided to stop sending so many healthcare workers, but instead of addressing the key issues, Taiwan is simply turning to Myanmar for more workers. Unbridled greed is evident in the vultures feeding on human misery, raking in millions of NT dollars from helpless workers.
What is next? Offering employment to the hungry in exchange for food alone? Demanding a kidney? Hopefully, Myanmar will also wake up and leave Taiwan’s caregiver workforce to collapse without any foreign laborers.
Chaim Melamed
Pingtung
Marriage not a public issue
The debate over same-sex marriage caught national media attention with large protests in Taipei both for and against the issue.
Talk of Taiwan becoming the first Asian nation to grant marriage equality for members of the LGBT community brought the conversation to kitchen tables and tea shops across the nation.
Most asked if Taiwanese could accept same-sex marriage, but it should not matter what public opinion is.
Marriage is not a public decision. The public at large has no right to insert itself into private relationship decisions. What does that mean? It means the public cannot interfere with marriage.
If the bride and groom are unemployed, uneducated and living on government assistance, they can marry.
If the husband or wife is a convicted, violent felon, they can get married.
If both the potential bride and groom have previously married and divorced a half-dozen times, they can get married.
If one or both partners is incapable of having children, they can get married.
If both can clearly consent, they can marry.
The public’s opinion on the likely success of a marriage and how that union might affect society are not factors that are considered when people marry.
So, why do people feel that religious inclinations, societal apprehensions or personal discomfort should create any impediment to another person’s freedom to live and love as their conscience and heart implores them?
What kind of over-entitled mode of thinking would prevent another person from making a meaningful life commitment because it makes them feel uncomfortable?
There is too much pain, sadness and fear in this world to add more by denying people their heart’s desire.
Also, are we not all just too damn busy to meddle in the private lives of our neighbors and countrymen and women?
Aaron Andrews
Taichung
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