TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Labor will restart its outreach program for foreign caregivers in the second half of the year, reported CNA.
It plans to collaborate with NGOs and labor brokers to assign migrant workers to households requiring care.
Previously, the labor ministry had a program in which nonprofit organizations could apply to provide foreign caregivers to families with disabilities after undergoing screening. The goal was to establish a diverse employment model for foreign caregivers.
However, strict eligibility criteria for the pilot project and concerns raised by domestic groups about the potential displacement of local workers led to its failure.
Last year, the labor ministry began planning a reboot of the scheme and it is now formulating a pilot program. Su Yu-kuo (蘇裕國), head of the Cross-Border Workforce Management Division under the ministry's Workforce Development Agency, said the pilot will commence in one or two cities in the latter half of the year.
Su said the initiative relaxes restrictions on pilot organizations and service recipients. Participating pilot organizations will now be required to have a thorough understanding of caregiving service needs and expertise in hiring and managing migrant workers. The idea is to have NGOs and reputable labor brokers collaborate to form pilot organizations.
Su added the previous program limited eligibility to families with severe disabilities or significant caregiving needs, meaning only employers qualified to hire migrant workers could apply. Consequently, there was little incentive for employers who already had such workers to participate, making it challenging to sustain the program.
Under the new plan, eligibility will be broadened to include families requiring companion care for elderly individuals, and those with acute medical conditions who require temporary caregiving assistance.
The program is a fee-based service and there would be public consultation, Su said. The objective is to provide greater flexibility and innovation in terms of service.
