Taiwan’s labor ministry is working to establish a mechanism to retain foreign skilled workers. Many foreign workers are about to meet their 12-year employment limit.
Deputy minister of the labor ministry Chen Yi-Min said Tuesday that the ministry is working with the legislature to allow qualified foreign workers to have longer work permits.
“Currently, the consensus reached by both the ruling party and the opposition party is to keep the 12-year limit, and set a new system," said Chen.
"In other words, a worker needs to have worked in Taiwan for 12 years, and the employer needs to want to retain the worker. He should have good language abilities, communication skills, and mature work skills. Then the worker can stay if he passes the ministry’s review.”
Chen also said Taiwan is facing a shortage in its workforce. Starting next year, the number of people working will decrease by 180,000 per year on average. The retention system is expected to keep foreign workers with good work skills in Taiwan in the face of this trend.