The Ministry of Labor on Friday “put on hold” the easing of restrictions on hiring foreign professionals for further deliberations.
The Legal Affairs Committee made the decision after reviewing revised regulations on hiring foreign professionals, which would ease restrictions on the salary threshold, work experience and employee qualifications.
In a bid to retain skilled foreign workers, the ministry announced last month that it would ease restrictions on hiring foreign professionals. Under the new regulations, companies hiring foreign nationals would no longer be required to have paid-in capital of NT$5 million (US$148,346) and sales of NT$10 million, and foreign employees would no longer be required to have two years work experience in their field.
In addition, the minimum monthly salary for foreign professionals is NT$47,971 per month, but for foreign employees who do not meet that threshold an assessment based on points was to be introduced to assess their qualifications.
If an individual’s academic background, foreign-language and professional abilities add up to more than 60 points, the person would be allowed to work in Taiwan, regardless of income.
The new rules would also allow spouses and children of foreign professionals to apply to work in Taiwan.
However, the way the ministry used an administrative order to ease the work restrictions invited opposition from labor groups.
The Taiwan Labor Front said the backlash was mainly because the revision was the result of the executive branch arbitrarily announcing a policy adjustment through an administrative order.
There were also doubts about lowering the threshold for hiring foreign nationals, which some activists said would result in “low-salary foreign laborers” and lessen employment opportunities for Taiwanese.
The committee decided to reverse its decision and has “postponed the promulgation” of the revisions.
The Workforce Development Agency is to collect more information, broaden communication and revisit the matter at a later date.
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