Companies May Hire More Foreign Workers, But Face Higher Costs

Employers will soon benefit from raised caps on the percentage of foreign workers allowed in the work force, but they must also meet additional costs for these workers. Today, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced that the limit on foreign workers will be increased to as much as 40 percent of an employer’s payroll. At the same time, employers will be required to pay foreign workers higher wages than before, and to allocate employment security commitments of $3,000, $5,000 or $7,000 in Taiwan New Dollars.

Although MOEA is still arranging the particulars of the plan – including effective dates – with the Council of Labor Affairs, it is expected that the changes will first go into effect in industries designated as 3K5. This label denotes fields considered dangerous, difficult or messy. BAL will provide details about implementation as they become available.

For additional information on Taiwanese immigration matters, please contact GlobalVisaGroup@bal.com.

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