Labor Minister Chen Hsiung-wen says that the government plans to loosen restrictions on hiring foreign white collar workers. Chen was speaking at the legislature on Thursday.
Chen said that the move is aimed at attracting more foreign talent to Taiwan. Currently, foreign white collar workers must have at least a university-level degree and more than two years of work experience to be eligible for employment in Taiwan.
Taiwanese companies that have been in business for five years or more must also meet criteria in the areas of capitalization and operating revenue before they can hire foreign nationals. There are also rules about the minimum monthly salary foreign workers must earn in Taiwan.
Chen told the legislature that the government plans to scrap rules requiring a minimum two years of work experience. Chen also said that the government plans to abolish minimum monthly wages for foreign workers.
Chen said that the current rules had been adopted out of fears that foreign professionals would take local jobs. However, Chen said that Taiwan’s low wages mean that Taiwan has only been able to attract a little over 20,000 foreign white collar workers, meaning that some rules should be scrapped. Chen said he believes new, loosened policies can be implemented by the end of the year.