TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A program that relaxes the rules for families to hire migrant caregivers and employ them with flexible hours goes into effect next month.

Under the program, people who are disabled, severely ill, or have had medical treatment or surgery, meet the criteria for hiring a migrant caregiver. Also, if they are assessed as needing long-term care at levels 2 to 8 they can apply, per UDN. The services can be provided on a short-term, hourly basis. 

Su Yu-kuo (蘇裕國), head of the Workforce Development Agency's Cross-border Workforce Management Division, said that service providers will be announced soon. Private welfare foundations or nonprofit organizations will act as employers, hiring foreign caregivers and managing service requests.

These organizations will dispatch the caregivers to applicants' homes to assist, accompany clients on outings and medical visits, and offer companionship. The caregivers can provide services from a minimum of four hours to 24-hour care, with a 10-hour rest period.

Since the program requires users to pay out-of-pocket, Su said service fees vary according to the provider. The Ministry of Labor will later publish the pricing details on the WDA’s website. 

Due to differences in living costs across regions, fees for a four-hour session will range from NT$1,000 to NT$1,250, while an eight-hour session will cost between NT$1,200 and NT$2,500. Full 24-hour service will be priced between NT$2,600 and NT$3,500.

Su added that after the service providers are announced, Taiwanese workers must first be recruited before migrant caregivers can be hired and trained. The program is expected to launch as early as late March.