A group of employers took to the streets on Workers’ Day yesterday to demand the abolition of the replacement wait period for caregivers and the introduction of mandatory security deposits, criticizing the government for insufficient long-term care capacity.
The alliance, formed of families employing migrant caregivers, raised four demands at a news conference outside the Ministry of Education: scrapping the replacement wait period and the employment stabilization fee, mandating prepaid airfare deposits and ending “one-stop” training sessions.
The total cost of hiring a migrant caregiver can reach NT$40,000 per month, which is considerable for families in need, alliance convener Lin Ping-yang (林秉洋) said.
Photo: CNA
Monthly expenses, including wages and bonuses for not taking days off, amount to about NT$25,000 to NT$30,000, while food and accommodation cost another NT$15,000 to NT$25,000, Lin said, adding that there is also a monthly employment stabilization fee of NT$2,000.
Despite rising costs, the quality of care has declined, he said, adding that now, unsuitable caregivers can linger in the home under the protection of the wait period.
Under regulations, employers often face months-long wait periods to replace workers who abscond or become involved in transfer disputes, he said.
Once a worker is confirmed to have gone missing or transferred by mutual agreement, the government should immediately approve a replacement, he said.
Imposing an “administrative penalty” leaves care recipients and their families to shoulder the consequences, Lin said.
Airfare costs for migrant workers who complete their contracts or are deported are almost entirely borne by employers, creating significant financial risk and inequity, he said.
Lin urged the government to amend the law to establish a mandatory airfare insurance mechanism so that ticket costs would be covered by a deposit if a worker returns home legally or is deported.
It is absurd that employers are forced to pay for workers’ contraventions, he added.
Many people must hire migrant workers to support older family members, but flawed government regulations have tilted the balance of power in favor of workers, Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairwoman Chou Ni-an (周倪安) said.
The government has continually expanded migrant workers’ rights on the grounds of human rights, making it increasingly tough for employers, she said.
The National Health Insurance (NHI) and labor insurance systems are sustained by citizens’ contributions, yet benefits are extended to foreigners who work in Taiwan for only short periods, she said.
Despite enjoying extensive rights, some migrant workers do not honor their contracts, she said, adding that the use of the employment stabilization fund should be made transparent or the fee should be abolished.
The Ministry of Labor did not respond to a request for comment as of press time last night.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
HEAVY WEATHER: Typhoon Jangmi is due to crash straight into the Ryukyus as airlines look to shift flights to larger aircraft or cancel flights to Okinawa entirely Taiwan’s international air carriers announced flight adjustments over the weekend as Typhoon Jangmi is forecast to hit the Ryukyu Islands today and tomorrow. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) upgraded Jangmi from a tropical storm to a typhoon at 8am yesterday, with the eye located 580km south of Naha city. It was moving north at 19kph. Today, China Airlines’ CI-120, CI-121, CI-122 and CI-123 flights between Taoyuan and Naha, Okinawa, have been canceled as well as CI-132 and CI-133 between Kaohsiung and Naha. EVA Air’s BR-112, BR-113, BR-186 and BR-185 flights between Taoyuan and Naha are also canceled. Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan canceled IT-230,
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS