TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Migrant workers and allied civil organizations gathered in front of the Ministry of Labor on Sunday to protest the treatment of migrant workers by employment brokerage agencies in Taiwan. 

In 2024 alone, over 2,800 complaints were received by the ministry involving migrant workers seeking to leave or transfer employers but were allegedly impeded by brokers in Taiwan, reported CNA. Migrant workers frustrated by the current situation petitioned the Ministry of Labor to address the unfair situation. 

Protestors were joined by representatives of the Domestic Caretakers Union (DCU) of Taoyuan, the Taiwan International Workers’ Association, and the Migrants Empowerment Network Taiwan in Taipei on Saturday. 

In a press release, the DCU noted that migrant workers are rarely permitted to retain their own employment permits and transfer permits, which makes their work and livelihoods ripe for exploitation by employment brokerage agents.  

Numerous speakers shared the microphone to discuss the difficulties faced by migrant workers who are unable to seek redress for poor working conditions, or seek out new employers because they are unable to access these critical documents for themselves. The DCU says that this unacceptable situation has remained the same for over 30 years in Taiwan. 

It is commonly known and accepted that brokers will keep these documents for safekeeping, and then refuse to provide them to workers when they are requested. Without access to these permits, and in some cases a worker’s passport, they are unable to act autonomously, remaining beholden to the whims of unscrupulous brokers. 

In many cases, brokers will demand excessive fees before they provide the permits to workers. According to the protestors, these practices contribute to a cycle of exploitation which they say must be addressed by the government. 

In their petition to the Ministry of Labor, the protestors made three demands, per CNA. The demands are that workers be permitted to keep their employment documents; the government penalize brokers and other intermediaries who refuse to provide such documents upon request or demand unjust fees from workers; and that government inspectors visiting job sites confirm workers have their own identification and employment documents.