Taipei, Dec. 25 (CNA) – The Ministry of Labor (MOL) announced on Wednesday that it will release new guidelines in late January 2025 aimed at informing female migrant workers in Taiwan about their rights and the rights of their children.
The guidelines will compile existing government policies from various agencies, covering issues related to pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing, the ministry said.
Chen Shih-chang , acting director-general of the Workforce Development Agency (WDA), stated at a press conference that the guidelines will address key occupational rights for migrant workers. For example, it will make clear that their employment contracts cannot be changed without their consent during pregnancy.
Additionally, the guidelines will provide information on hotlines and call centers where migrant workers can seek advice about pregnancy. It will also include reminders about the importance of using contraception.
The guidelines will be distributed in several ways. Physical copies will be made available at local women and children activity centers, during home visits by social workers, and via the LINE app. The guidelines will also be accessible through the 1955 hotline, which migrant workers use to file complaints.
The guidelines will be available in multiple languages, including English, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Thai. A Chinese-language version will also be provided for employers and labor brokers.
When asked whether the guidelines would apply to migrant workers who are not officially registered, Chen assured that the services would not differentiate between registered and unregistered workers. However, he noted that the issue of whether medical institutions should be required not to report unregistered migrant workers seeking medical care is still under discussion between the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of the Interior.
In addition, Su Yu-kuo, head of the WDA’s Cross-border Workforce Management Division, mentioned that the WDA is considering the introduction of childbirth subsidies for migrant domestic helpers and caregivers. These subsidies would help offset the costs of raising children either in Taiwan or in their home countries.
Currently, migrant domestic helpers and caregivers are not covered by Taiwan’s Labor Standards Act and are not entitled to childbirth subsidies. Su added that this issue was raised by lawmakers in the Legislature. The WDA is working with the Ministry of Health to establish criteria for migrant workers to qualify for these subsidies.
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