A new wage-hike policy does not immediately apply to tens of thousands of migrants already employed in the country and would lead to inequality, live-in migrant caregivers and domestic helpers in Taiwan have said, criticizing a policy the government introduced on Wednesday.
The wage increase announced on Wednesday, the first of its kind since 2015 for family-employed caregivers, raises the minimum wage for live-in migrant caregivers to NT$20,000 from NT$17,000.
The new minimum wage remains NT$5,250 lower than the standard minimum wage, as live-in caregivers are not covered by the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法), a sticking point among many foreign workers
Taipei, Aug. 12 (CNA) Live-in migrant caregivers and domestic helpers in Taiwan have blasted the government for a new wage hike policy that will not immediately apply to tens of thousands of migrants already employed in the country and lead to inequality.
Taiwan plans to raise the minimum monthly wage for live-in migrant caregivers and domestic helpers from NT$17,000 to NT$20,000, following progress in talks with Indonesia, where most of Taiwan’s caregivers originate, a labor official said on Thursday.
Indonesia last month agreed to exempt Taiwan from its zero-placement fee policy, and to resume processing applications of new caregivers to work in Taiwan after a series of talks, said Paul Su (蘇裕國), head of the Workforce Development Agency’s Cross-Border Workforce Management Division.
Indonesia in March halted Taiwan-based applications from new caregivers due to resistance from Taiwanese employers toward Indonesia’s zero-fee policy, which Su said
Taipei, Aug. 4 (CNA) Taiwan plans to raise the minimum monthly wage for live-in migrant caregivers and domestic helpers from NT$17,000 (US$567) to NT$20,000 following progress in talks with Indonesia, where most caregivers come from, a labor official said Thursday.