• Location:臺灣
• Date: 2024/04/26
• Update Date:2024/04/26
• Clicks:18

The Ministry of Labor has initiated the "Long-term Retention Program for Migrant Workers" since April 30th, 2022 to support employers in retaining skilled migrant workers by facilitating their transition into mid-level technical roles. Under this program, migrant workers are offered monthly salaries of at least NT$33,000 for mid-level technical positions in industry and NT$24,000 for mid-level family caregiver roles. The transition to these positions comes with salary increases, incentivizing migrant workers to remain in Taiwan. Moreover, employers participating in this program are exempt from paying the Employment Stability Fee. Over the past year, the program has successfully enabled employers to retain over 26,000 migrant workers, establishing a mutually beneficial scenario for both employers and employees alike.

In response to the evolving demographic trends of Taiwan and the growing demand for talent retention across various sectors, the Ministry of Labor has introduced the Long-term Retention Program for Migrant Workers, which targets skilled migrant workers with a minimum of 6 years of experience and who meet specific technical criteria. Employers seeking to retain such skilled migrant workers can apply for their transition into mid-level technical positions. To qualify, employers must offer salaries starting at NT$33,000 for industry positions, NT$24,000 for family caregiver roles, and NT$29,000 for institutional positions. Furthermore, employers have the flexibility to enhance these salary offers. By assessing the technical proficiency and commitment of migrant workers to remain in Taiwan, employers can increase the salary to at least NT$35,000 for industry positions, NT$26,000 for family positions, and NT$31,000 for institutional positions. Furthermore, employers applying under these conditions are exempt from providing proof of foreign technical qualifications. 

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Labor, from the program’s inception on April 30, 2022, until the end of March 2024, a total of 26,545 foreign workers have been approved for transition to mid-level technical personnel. Among these, 10,805 are in the industry category, while 15,740 are in the social welfare category. In terms of applications by technical qualification category, a significant portion of employers have shown willingness to apply for the "increasing salaries without requiring proof of foreign technical qualifications" category. Applications with salaries of at least NT$35,000 for industry positions accounted for 83.3% of all industry applications, those with salaries of at least NT$26,000 for family caregiving positions accounted for 81.7%, and those with salaries of at least NT$31,000 for institutional positions accounted for 86.5%, effectively demonstrating enhancement of salary and benefits for migrant workers transitioning to mid-level technical positions.

The Ministry of Labor further noted that after migrant workers are transitioned to mid-level technical positions, not only do their salaries and benefits improve, but there is also no longer a limitation on the duration of work permits, allowing them to stay in Taiwan for an extended period. Employers can retain excellent manpower while being exempt from paying the Employment Stability Fee, thus alleviating the burden on employers. Additionally, after migrant workers are transitioned to mid-level technical positions, the original migrant worker quota can be further applied for new migrant workers in accordance with the law, providing employers with greater flexibility in manpower utilization and operation.

Taking Taiwan’s semiconductor packaging and testing giant, ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. (ASE), as an example, upon learning about the Ministry of Labor’s promotion of the Long-term Retention Program for Migrant Workers, the company has gradually transitioned over a hundred outstanding senior migrant workers to mid-level technical positions. ASE stated that the company is committed to motivating, encouraging, and respecting talent. While ASE employs many local employees as well as migrant workers, the previous limitation on the duration of work for migrant workers in Taiwan compelled many outstanding senior migrant workers who had been employed for over a decade to return to their home countries or seek employment elsewhere in other countries. Therefore, upon learning about the Long-term Retention Program for Skilled Foreign Workers, ASE enthusiastically supported the policy, endeavoring to enhance salary packages and working environments to extend mid-level technical positions to outstanding senior migrant workers possessing significant technical competencies. These migrant workers who have transitioned mid-level technical personnel have been effectively promoted to roles as frontline supervisors or executives, becoming exemplary role models for fellow migrant workers within the organization. This proactive approach has not only bolstered morale among all migrant workers but has also cultivated a steadfast and enduring production workforce for the company. Consequently, ASE wholeheartedly endorses the Long-term Retention Program for Migrant Workers.

The Ministry of Labor further added that according to estimates by the National Development Council, the working-age population of Taiwan aged 16 to 64 will continue to decline, and there is also a shortage of mid-level technical manpower. Apart from prioritizing local employment, it is also necessary to appropriately leverage the Long-term Retention Program for Migrant Workers to retain excellent foreign mid-level technical manpower, with the goal to move towards the target of retaining 140,000 foreign mid-level technical workers by 2030, thereby supplementing Taiwan’s workforce needs. As of the end of March 2024, a total of 26,545 foreign mid-level technical workers have been approved, compared to 5,376 during the same period in 2023, representing a growth of 3.9 times. In 2023, the number of applications reached 20,457, exceeding the annual target by more than twice, indicating a continuous increase in employers’ willingness to apply for the program.

To assist companies like ASE, other industries, and families requiring family caregiving services, the Ministry of Labor has established the "Long-term Retention of Migrant Workers Service Center" website portal (website: https://lrsc.wda.gov.tw) and service center (Tel: 03-659-1996; address: No. 195, Gaotie 8th Road, Zhubei City, Hsinchu County). Through the establishment of a single window service, the Ministry is committed to providing related services to the public.