BALANCING ACT: The groups called for legislation to protect the rights of foreign domestic workers without negatively affecting the quality of the care they provide

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 01, 2019
By: Lee I-chia  /  Staff reporter

The Taiwan International Worker-Employment Relationship Harmony Development Association

yesterday called for a special law on foreign domestic workers to protect their rights and those of their employers.

Members of the association and the Association of Spinal Cord Injury Taipei, as well as 10 people in wheelchairs, rallied at Taipei’s 228 Peace Memorial Park (228和平紀念公園) calling for the right to receive better care services and to be treated with respect and dignity.

Citing a case of a foreign domestic worker unexpectedly giving birth in her shocked employer’s home, Taiwan International Worker-Employment Relationship Harmony Development Association honorary adviser Chien Li-chen (簡莉珍) said that at-home caregivers often need to perform physically demanding work, which can be difficult if they are pregnant.

After asking a caregiver to demonstrate how she would help lift a man surnamed Lai (賴) — who has a damaged spine, is 1.87m tall and weighs 85kg — from his wheelchair, Chien said that the strenuous task is performed more than six times per day and would be difficult for a pregnant caregiver.    [FULL  STORY]