The Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) is starting a series of programs that aim to help foreign and Chinese spouses to get through unemployment phases as well as assist them financially to start their own businesses.
According to information provided by the Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training last week, the Temporary Work Subsidy Program, aims to help those who are in between jobs, now applies to foreign and Chinese spouses as well. Those who are eligible must have been unemployed for more than 12 weeks and be from medium- or low-income households.
Prior to last week, foreign and Chinese spouses were excluded from this program.
In addition, in order to encourage private entities to hire foreign and Chinese spouses, employers who do will receive a hiring bonus.
Employers who hire foreign or Chinese spouses through the recommendation of governmental employment centers may receive NT$5,000 per month per person hired, for a maximum period of six months.
Furthermore, for foreign and Chinese spouses who have acquired Taiwan ID cards and who are interested in starting their own businesses may receive loans from the government.
Those who are over the age of 45 may receive small-business start-up loans from the Ministry of Economic Affairs; individuals under 45 may apply for youth entrepreneurship loans from the National Youth Commission.
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