The Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) yesterday said it plans to crack down on the illegal use of foreign labor by increasing fines for violators.
The council said the problem of runaway foreign workers and the illegal employment of undocumented foreign workers was highlighted by the deaths of six runaway workers at a construction site on the No. 6 freeway in September. The tragedy sparked concern that the problem has become severe and that runaway workers are working with little or no labor protection.
Council statistics show there are about 34,000 runaway foreign workers in Taiwan.
Regulations state that employers who hire illegal foreign workers can be fined between NT$150,000 (US$5,000) and NT$750,000, and brokers who hire illegal foreign workers can be fined between NT$100,000 to NT$500,000.
However, because local governments have the final say on fine amounts, most are not heavy enough, said Tsai Meng-liang (蔡孟良), chief of the foreign workers management division at the council’s Bureau of Employment and Vocational Training.
Tsai said that the council has instructed local governments to issue heavier fines to violators. Agencies brokering two or more illegal foreign workers will be fined NT$500,000. Employers who hire one illegal foreign worker will be fined NT$150,000, those who hire two to four will be fined NT$300,000 and those who hire five or more will be fined NT$750,000, the council said.
The council also plans to propose amendments to the Employment Services Act (就業服務法) that would increase the maximum fine for illegal brokering to NT$1.5 million.
A maximum prison term of five years and a fine of up to NT$2.4 million is planned for repeat offenders.
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