Migrant Workers March For Better Working Conditions

TaiwanPlus News

Migrant workers rallied in Taipei on Sunday, calling for the abolition of the work-year limit that will soon force some of them to return to their home countries.   There are over 800,000 migrant workers in Taiwan, mostly from Southeast Asia, working in jobs like caregiving, manufacturing and agriculture—sectors that support Taiwan’s rapidly aging population and major industries.    Wu Jing-ru, the rally's spokeperson, said that as Taiwan faces a labor shortage, the work-year limit prevents the country from retaining skilled foreign workers.    Reporter: Tiffany Wong  Videographer: Klein Wang  Video Editor: Alison Nguyen   #TaiwanPlusNews #MigrantWorkers #Rally

Transcript

00:00We are not Taipurani. We are not indigible. We are workers, and we deserve the same BCC in everyone.

00:11At a rally in Taipei on Sunday, hundreds of migrant workers and labor rights activists

00:16have come out to demand fair treatment for these essential workers.

00:19They're calling for fair work visa treatment and chances to stay in Taiwan longer,

00:24as their time in Taiwan slowly ticks down due to the work year limit,

00:28a rule that only allows blue-collar workers to stay in the country for up to 12 years,

00:33or 14 for those working as caregivers.

00:36They're also only allowed to work on contracts of up to three years,

00:40meaning they often face uncertainty about continuing employment,

00:43and they want to get rid of this work year limit.

00:46The rally's spokesperson says that the work year limit prevents Taiwan

00:49from keeping the foreign workers they desperately need.

00:58It doesn't allow people to continue to stay in the country,

01:00but it doesn't allow people to stay in the country from the country.

01:04This is not a good plan for Taiwan to stay in the country.

01:06It's not a good plan for Taiwan to stay in the country.

01:10Kristi, a caregiver from Indonesia who's worked in Taiwan for two years,

01:14says she hopes to bring her family over if immigration policies change.

01:18My family in Indonesia and my kids have to study for a long time now

01:25at the elementary school and junior high school,

01:30but one day we are going to come to Taiwan for study to the campus

01:37and come together with me.

01:40Ignas, also from Indonesia, has worked in Taiwan for 11 years

01:44and is set to leave next year under current rules.

01:46Yang kedua alas besarnya faktor apa sosial yang sudah saya bangun di sini

01:52bersama kawan-kawan baik dari sesama pekerja migran

01:55maupun dengan komunitas-komunitas lokal yang ada di sini

01:58dan kami sudah punya ikatan yang kuat ya

02:00itu bukan suatu hal yang mudah untuk ditinggalkan apalagi dilupakan.

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