TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Employers will soon be required to contribute to retirement funds for migrant workers who have been employed by the same company for more than 10 years, according to a new directive issued by the Ministry of Labor.

Huang Wei-chen (黃維琛), director of the ministry’s Department of Employment Welfare and Retirement, told CNA on Thursday that blue-collar migrant workers are covered by the old labor pension system. The ministry had previously classified them as “supplementary labor,” exempting employers from pension contributions since the maximum stay in Taiwan was only six years.

Huang explained that as Taiwan has gradually eased migrant worker policies and implemented the long-term retention program, workers now have a real chance of qualifying for retirement benefits. The Control Yuan this year also asked the ministry to review whether its earlier interpretation exceeded legal authority in light of extended stay limits.

Under the new directive, employers must contribute between 2% and 15% of their employees’ total monthly wages to the old labor pension reserve fund. Wages of migrant workers employed by the same company for over 10 years must be included in these calculations.

Huang added that more than 7,000 companies in Taiwan employ migrant workers, but not all have set up pension reserve accounts under the old system. The new rule will take effect on April 1 next year, with local governments assisting employers in opening accounts and making contributions.