Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 17 December, 2018
By: Jake Chen

Migrant workers protest against exploitation, lack of gov’t control

Migrant workers protest against exploitation, lack of gov’t control
The Taiwan International Workers’ Association and about 50 migrant workers protested in front of the Ministry of Labor on Monday. They were speaking out against what they say is increasing exploitation of foreign laborers.

In 2016, the government revised a law that had required migrant workers to exit and re-enter Taiwan every three years. The goal was to prevent employment agencies from charging migrant workers a high brokerage fee to return to Taiwan.

However, the agencies are now charging workers between NT$60,000 and NT$80,000 (US$2,000-2,600) each time they change their job or employer, which is illegal. That puts the workers in a situation where they have to either pay a heavy fee or face repatriation when they cannot land a job without going through a broker. The workers say the exploitation is worse now than it was before the laws were revised.    [FULL  STORY]