More than 92% of new residents in Taiwan are happy with their lives, according to the results of an Interior Ministry study released on Friday. Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said that the Survey of New Immigrants' Living Needs has been conducted every five years since 1992 and shows that as the country’s living standards, culture, and political freedom improve, the living conditions of new residents do as well.
Liu said that in conjunction with the recently passed "New Basic Resident Law" on July 16, which includes eight categories of care service measures, the government continues to build a more comprehensive care policy. She emphasized that if people can fulfill official residence qualifications, assistance with Taiwan’s social services, education, employment, medical, and other needs will be provided by the government and private sector.
According to the survey, the number of immigrants residing in Taiwan via marriage has reached nearly 600,000. In addition, the overall labor participation rate of new residents is 75%, significantly higher than the 59% of the local population, and with current job satisfaction of 94.8 %. Out of more than 10,000 samples, people aged 45 to 60 accounted for 45.6%; 92.1% of new residents are very happy with life in Taiwan with 62.9% having participated in various government care services. 77.3% of new residents over the age of 50 are choosing to retire in Taiwan.
Liu said she believes that satisfaction surveys show that the discrimination and exploitation in the past are slowly fading away. She added that as long as new residents are willing to come to Taiwan, they are good friends of Taiwanese people, and will become new Taiwanese.