Today, the Domestic Caretakers Union Taoyuan (DCU) and the Migrants Empowerment Network Taiwan (MENT) gathered in front of the Ministry of Labor to file a formal complaint. They pointed out that although Taiwan has been hiring migrant workers for over 30 years, the majority of these workers have never had access to their own employment permits or transfer permits. Several other migrant worker unions and human rights organizations joined the protest, calling on the Ministry of Labor to address the exploitative practice of brokers forcibly withholding these essential documents.
Key Documents Withheld by Brokers
A representative from DCU explained that both the employment permit and the transfer permit are issued by the Ministry of Labor. The employment permit specifies the authorized work location, job details, and employment period, serving as the most critical document proving the worker’s legal employment status. Residence validity and social insurance coverage are also determined based on this document.
The transfer permit, on the other hand, serves as proof that a migrant worker is legally authorized to change employers. Workers with a transfer permit can freely negotiate contracts with any eligible employer. However, these two essential documents are often withheld by brokers, leaving workers—and even employers—unable to access them. In some cases, employers are entirely unaware of these documents' existence.
Exploitation Through "Safekeeping"
A representative from the Solidarity for Better Immigration Policies in Taiwan (SBIPT) emphasized that private brokers often withhold these documents under the pretense of "safekeeping." They then exploit this control to charge migrant workers’ new employers or agencies so-called “placement fees” or “document fees.” These costs are frequently passed down to the migrant workers themselves, forcing them to pay to "redeem" documents they should already legally own without condition.
Demands for Reform
The coalition of migrant worker unions and advocacy groups presented three key demands:
- Prohibit Brokers from Retaining Documents: The government must strictly ban brokers from withholding employment or transfer permits.
- Establish a Monitoring Mechanism: A transparent system must ensure that migrant workers have direct and uninterrupted access to their documents.
- Impose Penalties for Violations: Brokers who refuse to release documents must face fines, and enforcement measures must be implemented rigorously.
The coalition urged Minister of Labor Hsu Shen-Hsien to uphold his commitment to labor rights and address the long-standing exploitation by brokers. They demanded immediate action against the practice of withholding documents under false pretenses and profiting at the expense of migrant workers.
[UDN / Photography Center/ Reporter Qiu Dexiang/ Real-time reporting ]2024-12-15 11:27
[Photo by Reporter Qiu Dexiang]