The interior ministry has proposed changes to rules on the use of migrant workers in the construction industry. The proposed rule change is intended to fill a labor shortage and keep building costs under control.
The proposed rule changes would allow companies to hire migrant workers for projects of a certain size and duration.
Responding to criticism of the proposals from labor groups, Deputy Interior Minister Hua Ching-chun said that these changes would lower construction costs and keep them from making housing unaffordable. Hua also wrote on Facebook that a shortage of construction workers could make securing bids more difficult, raise expenditures needed to get projects done, and delay construction times.