活動快報

內容：

The Employment Security Fund Management Committee (ESFMC) today (August 10, 2022) approved a new Ministry of Labor (MOL) proposed program that increases the monthly wage of live-in foreign workers from NT$17,000 to NT$20,000. The MOL announced that starting from August 10 a new salary framework will be introduced for newly recruited live-in foreign workers, and those whose employment is continued (or who seek transfers) following the completion of their contracts in Taiwan, while simultaneously providing low income and medium income employers who hire live-in foreign caregivers with a monthly wage subsidy of NT$3,000, for a maximum of three years. Other employers will receive a wage subsidy of NT$1,500 until the end of the year, for a maximum of four months.The MOL indicated that a resolution passed at a meeting of the ESFMC on July 7 asked the ministry to draft a proposal to increase the wages of live-in foreign workers and measures to provide disadvantaged families with a wage subsidy. Today, that proposal was submitted to the ESFA. After much discussion it was decided that only a plan that takes into consideration the economic burden on employers and reasonably increases the wages of live-in foreign workers will facilitate harmonious labor relations, overall management of foreign workers and ensure a stable source of foreign labor. On that basis, the wage increase measures for live-in foreign workers proposed by the MOL were passed, increasing the monthly wages of newly hired live-in foreign workers brought into Taiwan and those whose employment is continued or seek transfers at the end of their current labor contract in Taiwan from NT$17,000 to NT$20,000. In addition, if a foreign worker is employed by the same employer for three years it is proposed the employer should increase his/her wage by NT$1,000 per month to a monthly wage of NT$21,000. If a foreign worker is employed by the same employer for six years or more it is proposed the employer should further increase his/her wage by NT$1,000 per month to a monthly wage of NT$22,000, to be implemented immediately. As for live-in foreign workers currently legally employed in Taiwan under existing labor contracts, they will continue to receive the salary stipulated in their original contract. However, with the agreement of an employer the contract can be amended ahead of time to incorporate the new monthly wage regulations.The MOL explained that the recent meeting of the ESFMC also passed wage increase subsidy supporting measures proposed by the ministry. After discussing how best to reduce the impact of the wage increase on economically disadvantaged families, while also taking into consideration the increased burden on most families during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided that where the employer or the care recipient hiring a foreign caregiver belongs to a low income or medium income household, is a recipient of the life subsidy detailed in the Peoples with Disabilities Rights Protection Act or that provided to low and medium income households in the Senior Citizens Welfare Act, he/she will receive a monthly wage subsidy of NT$3,000 for a maximum of three years or a total of NT$108,000 per case. Other employers subject to the salary increase for live-in foreign workers should file an application before the end of 2022 and will receive a wage subsidy of NT$1,500 per month for a maximum of four months or total of NT$6,000 per case.The MOL’s wage increase program takes into consideration both the need for foreign workers to receive a reasonable wage and the increased economic burden faced by employers. Moreover, the Indonesian government will now reinstitute reviews of live-in foreign workers’ documentation and once again allow its nationals to work in Taiwan, which will help to alleviate the domestic shortage of live-in caregivers. The Ministry of Labor will publish regulations on how employers can apply for wage subsidies. If you have questions more detailed information can be found on the Workforce Development Agency’s Foreign Labor Rights Protection Information Website (https://fw.wda.gov.tw/) where there are answers to frequently asked questions, or feel free to call the 1955 hotline.