Taiwan and India signed the MOU on migrant workers last Friday. After completing the exchange of documents, it will be submitted to the cabinet for review.
Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春), who was interviewed at the legislature on Tuesday, addressed concerns about the introduction of Indian migrant workers to Taiwan. She emphasized that the MOU is only a framework and that subsequent working-level meetings will discuss the cap on the number of workers, industries to be opened, source regions, and language requirements.
Hsu says that this is the first cooperation between the two countries, and both parties need to adapt. She clarified that the trial run for Indian migrant workers will be on a small-scale and will not involve the introduction of 100,000 workers, as speculated.
Regarding the industries open to Indian migrant workers, Hsu mentioned that Indian workers have expertise in manufacturing, agriculture, and nursing, aligning with Taiwan's current open industries. However, further discussions will depend on the needs of employers.
Hsu also clarified that this is simply adding India as a source country for migrant workers, providing more options for employers. The government's policy on opening up industries to migrant workers and the qualifications for applying remain unchanged, with priority still given to domestic employment. Migrant workers are only intended to fill labor shortages, so citizens need not worry.