Officials from the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei yesterday confirmed that two negotiators from the Indonesia's Department of Manpower and Transmigration arrived in Taipei last night to negotiate a lifting of the Council of Labor Affairs' (CLA) embargo on the importation of Indonesian workers.
"According to the minister of the Department of Manpower and Transmigration, they sent two experienced negotiators to Taipei to seek a solution for lifting the CLA's embargo," Supono, vice chairman of the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei, told the Taipei Times.
Supono said that he was unclear about the negotiators' proposals, but emphasized they would stay until the problems are solved.
CLA officials yesterday also confirmed that they were notified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) that the Indonesian government was sending negotiators to Taiwan, but further details about the negotiation are unknown.
"We'll hold a preliminary discussion with the negotiators before the official negotiation at the ministry tomorrow, since we have learned nothing about them. The MOFA and Indonesian representative office failed to offer further information about the negotiations and negotiators," Kuo Fang-yu (郭芳煜), director-general of the CLA's Employment and Vocational Training Administration, said in a phone interview with the Taipei Times.
Kuo emphasized that the council's stance on the matter remains unchanged.
"We are still willing to talk to the Indonesian government, but the most important thing is that we receive clear proposals to solve the problems we have raised," Kuo said.
The MOFA refused to confirm its notification to the CLA and declined to offer any information regarding the negotiation.
The CLA announced a halt to the importation of workers from Indonesia at the end of July, claiming that the Indonesian government had not made any attempt to solve the problem of the increased rates of its workers' absence from Taiwan.
It also cited the fact that, unlike other governments of countries supplying migrant workers, Jakarta requires employment brokers to retain a bond NT$3,000 per month from the wages of Indonesians, which is payable to the employee at the end of his or her contract.
Supono said he is confident that the problems can be solved.
"Both Taiwan and Indonesia rely on each other a lot over the matter. Despite miscommunications between the two authorities, which led to the CLA's Aug 1 halt, I believe that the two sides' negotiators will communicate well and find a solution to benefit Indonesian workers, Taiwanese employers, the two governments and even the two countries' brokers," he said.
He also confirmed that the sending of the envoys by his government was connected to Vice President Annette Lu's (
"Everything is connected," he said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS