The agriculture ministry is pushing farmers to create events attracting foreign workers to volunteer in the countryside on their days off. But some doubt if the new policy will work or is meant to create an employment gray zone.
With summer approaching, farms throughout Taiwan are entering their busiest time of the year. But farmers are facing a large labor shortage. Government statistics show farms are short 100,000 workers. In response, officials are encouraging foreign workers to spend their days off going to farms to help out.
One farmer says he and others are looking towards attracting foreign workers to get their work done.
So far the policy has only attracted around 1,000 workers. But some doubt the true intentions of the new program. Foreign workers participating in the program can’t be paid for their services. This leaves some wondering if this is a way of legalizing undocumented foreign workers already secretly working in agriculture.
Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung says the new program gives foreign workers a chance to experience farming. He says it is purely educational and doesn’t break any rules.
Critics say the regulations surrounding the policy are too vague. Guidelines sent out from the agriculture ministry say farmers who don’t know the legal status of participants can simply say they’re volunteers. This may create a gray zone for undocumented farm workers.