Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/12/28
By: Zhu Che-wei and Flor Wang
Taipei, Dec. 28 (CNA) Faced with a falling working population caused by a declining birth
Chen Mei-ling (陳美伶/CNA file photo)
rate, the government is set to overhaul existing immigration laws, National Development Council (NDC) Minister Chen Mei-ling (陳美伶) said Thursday.
The changes will be made to meet the needs of local industry, a departure from current regulations which focus on national security, as Taiwan looks for ways to deal with the huge challenges posed by an aged society and the impact of having too few professionals, Chen said.
Taiwan’s working population started to shrink in 2016 after peaking at 17.37 million in 2015. It it is expected to fall to 15.16 million in 2030, according to Chen, who said immigration laws need to be revamped to help Taiwan lure skilled workers from overseas.
To that end, Taiwan should build an environment friendly to foreigners, whether white collar or blue collar workers, to meet the needs of industry already plagued by a labor shortage, she said. [FULL STORY]
