Civil society organizations are calling on the government to give Hong Kong protesters and Ukrainian asylum seekers the right to work and material assistance. Their appeal comes on Monday, which is World Refugee Day.
Taiwan is not a signatory of the UN Refugee Convention, because it isn’t a member of the United Nations. But it also doesn’t have its own laws governing asylum seekers. Some refugees in Taiwan are able to stay in the country. But they often do not have access to permanent legal status or the right to work.
A Ukrainian refugee going by the surname Shevchenko says he has lived in Taiwan for three years. He says he hasn’t had a residency permit for a year and a half. During that time, he has not been able to rent a house or work. He says though Taiwan often speaks of supporting Ukraine, its treatment of people like him makes him feel “like an exotic pet,” not a member of society.
Amnesty International and the Taiwan Association for Human Rights say Taiwan’s government keeps delaying refugee legislation. The organizations say Taiwan should offer work permits to more refugees in Taiwan in line with international standards.