The transport ministry says that foreign construction workers should get vaccinated before coming to Taiwan to work at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Work is already underway on a massive expansion project including the construction of a third terminal.
Korean multinational Samsung is leading the project at Taiwan’s largest airport. It says it plans to recruit around 2,200 foreign laborers from the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia. The first group of 400 to 500 workers is set to arrive at the end of this year.
But the transport ministry fears that the project could pose a threat to Taiwan’s COVID-19 containment efforts. That comes after authorities identified a cluster of infections among migrant workers in Miaoli County in June this year.
Labor brokers often house workers in cramped dormitories, with up to 12 people in a room. Those conditions mean a single COVID-19 infection is likely to spread to many others.
Deputy Transport Minister Chi Wen-chung said on Monday that he has advised construction companies to ensure all laborers are vaccinated at least once before arriving in Taiwan.
Chi says the ministry will coordinate with the Central Epidemic Command Center to provide further guidance in the coming days.