Foreign workers are two to three times more likely to be involved in workplace accidents than their Taiwanese counterparts, a non-governmental organization (NGO) said on Sunday, urging employers to improve workplace safety.
The Taiwan International Workers’ Association called on employers to ensure employees receive professional training and obtain necessary qualifications before operating heavy machinery.
Control Yuan data showed that occupational accidents leading to disability claims among foreign workers were two to three times higher than with Taiwanese, the association said in a news release.
Photo: CNA
Accidents were particularly prevalent among foreign workers employed by small and medium-sized enterprises, it said.
Although workers are required to be licensed before operating heavy-duty equipment such as aerial work platforms and forklifts, employers often ask unlicensed foreign workers to operate the machines, which can result in accidents, it said.
Demanding that uncertified workers operate heavy machinery not only endangers workers, but also can result in heavy fines for employers, it said.
To raise awareness of the higher accident rate among Indonesian workers in Taiwan, the association said it had launched a safety training program using virtual reality technology in conjunction with the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office.
Ministry of Labor data released last year showed that as of May last year, 737,093 migrants worked in Taiwan, accounting for about 4 percent of the nation’s workforce, it said.
In addition, 46,327 “foreign professional personnel” worked in Taiwan, accounting for about 0.4 percent of the workforce, the data showed.
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