The legislature has passed an amendment to the Employment Services Act, extending the maximum number of years foreign caregivers may work in Taiwan.
Foreign caregivers help meet the needs of Taiwan’s aging population. Most caregivers employed in Taiwan come from Southeast Asia.
Prior to the revision, foreign caregivers would be unable to stay and work in Taiwan after 12 years. However, the newly amended law has raised the limit to 14 years. The amendment aims to prevent gaps in the care elderly people receive and limit problems that might arise as new caretakers adjust to a new environment.
Ruling Kuomintang lawmaker Yang Yu-hsin voiced support for the amendment at the legislature on Friday. However, she said that Taiwan must devise a more sustainable immigration policy or face losing the workers it trains to other countries.
Changes to the law passed Friday also waive the employment security fee attached to hiring foreign helpers for those who qualify for certain types of public assistance.