00:00A debate over Taiwan's migrant labor policies, simmering since 2024, erupted over the weekend.
00:06That's after the Labor Ministry said the country may welcome its first batch of Indian skilled labor relatively soon.
00:33The government signed an initial MOU with India in 2024 to welcome skilled workers in hospitality and cargo handling.
00:41It's strong criticism, with opponents saying these workers could pose public safety risks to Taiwan society.
00:47They recently launched a petition to scrap the plan, which has received over 37,000 signatures as of Tuesday morning.
00:55The main opposition, Kuomintang, has weighed in, saying the plan has been rushed through without informing the public about its
01:01details.
01:02With the deal having been approved two years ago, the KMT now wants to cap a debate over Taiwan's migrant
01:08labor policies, simmering since 2024, erupted over the weekend.
01:13That's after the Labor Ministry said the country may welcome its first batch of Indian skilled labor relatively soon.
01:38The government signed an initial MOU with India in 2024 to welcome skilled workers.
01:46But the main opposition, Kuomintang, says the plan has been rushed through without informing the public about its details.
01:52With the deal having been approved two years ago, the KMT now wants the Cabinet to hit the brake on
01:57the project.
01:58We are in the current stage, we are all over the way to the Indian workers.
02:03How long have we been in Taiwan now?
02:07This means that the government is a漏洞, and the management is a difficult situation.
02:11It has become a clear security perspective.
02:15Kuomintang, I ask you to go on the car.
02:18It's not to say you don't do it, it's to say you stop.
02:21You first hear it, and you first hear it, and you first hear it, and you first hear it.
02:24The people who are going to say something.
02:25But the ruling Democratic Progressive Party says that the KMT had long supported the plan,
02:30even urging the Labor Ministry to expedite the process.
02:52The plan has garnered significant public controversy, with many saying it raises public safety concerns.
02:59But on the streets of Taipei, people's responses told a more nuanced story.
03:44The Labor Ministry has set out two conditions for allowing more Indian workers,
03:48the actual labor demand of local industry,
03:51and two, whether the Indian government's final proposal meets Taiwan's needs and standards.
03:56As the debate rages on, Taiwan's labor situation won't see any major changes soon.
04:02Howard Zhang and I Ringling for Taiwan Plus.
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