TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Labor plans to amend work regulations and allow foreign students who have graduated from Taiwan's universities to take on six types of jobs.
According to estimates from the National Development Council, Taiwan is projected to face a labor shortage of 400,000 workers by 2030, per CNA. Encouraging foreign students and overseas Taiwanese to stay and work in Taiwan has become a key strategy for addressing this issue.
Last year, MOL allowed graduated foreign students to stay in Taiwan as mid-level hotel housekeeping staff to help alleviate labor shortages in the hospitality industry. However, due to the Tourism Administration's delay in launching training programs, no applications have been received thus far.
Other industries are also experiencing labor shortages. In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and Ministry of Economic Affairs have submitted proposals.
Therefore, MOL plans to amend regulations to allow foreign graduates to work in six mid-level skilled jobs: assistant nurses, warehouse logistics clerks, freight truck drivers, freight truck driving assistants, intercity and city bus drivers, and intercity and city bus safety management system personnel.
Under the current mid-level skilled workforce program, employers hiring such workers must meet specific salary and technical requirements. Chuang Kuo-liang (莊國良), deputy head of the Workforce Development Agency's Cross-Border Workforce Management Division, told CNA the proposed minimum monthly salary thresholds for these six positions are as follows:
- Assistant nurse: NT$34,000 (US$1,000)
- Warehouse logistics clerk: NT$39,000
- Freight truck driver: NT$43,000
- Assistant freight truck driver: NT$43,000
- Intercity and city bus driver: NT$50,000
- Intercity and city bus safety manager: NT$50,000
According to estimates from the MOHW, Taiwan needs approximately 25,000 to 35,000 foreign caregiver assistants. Meanwhile, the Highway Bureau plans to recruit 613 intercity bus drivers, along with 2,300 freight truck drivers and assistant freight truck drivers, and 30 safety management system personnel after the amendments go into effect.
Workforce Management Division head Su Yu-kuo (蘇裕國) said regulations are expected to be amended to specify employer eligibility and technical requirements. Su said the amendments will go through a public review period that will start at the end of the month.
