Revenue for the Employment Stabilization Fund is expected to increase by NT$10 billion (US$320 million) due mainly to relaxations in rules about hiring migrant workers, a Ministry of Labor (MOL) official said today.
In a recent meeting, the fund's committee approved proposals covering the fund’s projected sources of income and expenditure for next year, totaling NT$26.3 billion in revenue and NT$23.4 billion in spending, up from NT$25.2 billion and NT$22.7 billion respectively this year.
The projected increase in revenue is mainly due to recent relaxations in migrant worker policies, including expanded quotas for hiring domestic caregivers and factory workers, Workforce Development Agency division head Hou Sung-yen (侯松延) said.
Photo: CNA
As employers hiring foreign workers are required to pay a monthly employment stabilization fee, the greater number of hires is expected to boost revenue by NT$10 billion, he said.
As for expenditure, which is set to rise by NT$785 million, NT$475 million would be allocated to subsidize local governments providing short-term care services, he said.
Another NT$176 million would go to the Ministry of Health and Welfare to expand respite care programs, with the aim of offering greater support to households employing caregivers, he added.
About 61.64 percent of the fund’s spending would be allocated to programs promoting employment, the ministry said.
The programs include vocational training, employment information services, the operation of public employment service centers, employment support and vocational rehabilitation services for people with disabilities and incentives for women returning to the workforce, as well as organizing skills certification tests and competitions, it said.
Another 1.71 percent would be used to improve worker welfare, including subsidies for gender equality initiatives in the workplace, labor education, protections related to mass layoffs and financial assistance for the children of unemployed workers, it said.
Spending on the management of foreign worker employment would account for 20.04 percent of the total budget, including subsidies for local governments to provide short-term substitute care services and funding for the Ministry of Health and Welfare to expand respite care programs for families employing foreign caregivers, it said.
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