Taiwan raises minimum monthly wage for foreign caregivers to NT$20,000
台灣外籍看護最低月薪上調至新台幣2萬元
| Live-in workers hired on or after Aug. 10 and those who renew, change contracts eligible for NT$20,000 pay rate
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Labor (MOL) on Wednesday (Aug. 10) announced that the minimum wage for newly arrived foreign domestic caregivers and those renewing or changing contracts will be raised to NT$20,000 (US$666), while those in the middle of their contracts will have to negotiate with their employer for the higher rate. Although Taiwan's monthly minimum wage has increased on an annual basis to its current level of NT$25,250, the monthly wage for home-based migrant workers has not been adjusted from the NT$17,000, which was set in 2015. This means the gap between the monthly salaries of blue-collar workers and caregivers has reached NT$8,250. On July 7, MOL's Employment Security Fund Management Committee concluded that such a low wage is affecting Taiwan's international image and forces caregivers to consider changing employers or fleeing their bosses and becoming undocumented workers. With these factors in mind, the committee agreed on a recommendation that MOL should raise the monthly minimum wage for home-based migrant caregivers by 17% from NT$17,000 to NT$20,000 "as soon as possible," according to a MOL statement. In a press release issued on Wednesday, the MOL stated that while taking into account the economic burden on employers, it believes that improving the salary structure for foreign domestic caregivers can contribute to "harmonious labor-employer relations," overall management of migrant workers, and ensure a stable source of foreign workers. Therefore, it was announced that day that it had decided to implement the recommended monthly minimum wage hike to NT$20,000 for live-in foreign workers. That same day, the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) posted a notice on its 1955PH LINE account announcing the pay raise and the groups eligible to receive it. First, newly recruited domestic caregivers from abroad who have been hired on or after Aug. 10 will immediately be able for the new NT$20,000 monthly pay level. Second, domestic caregivers whose contract is ending and are either planning to renew or sign with a new employer are eligible for the new NT$20,000 monthly wage rate, effective immediately. However, domestic caregivers who were hired before Aug. 10 and whose contracts have not yet ended are not eligible for the mandatory pay raise until the date when their contract is renewed or transferred to a new employer. In its LINE announcement, the WDA pointed out that until the contract ends, "wages will continue to be paid in accordance with the original contract." The WDA noted that workers in this category can attempt to negotiate an increase in wages with their employer, but the employer is not obligated by law to raise their pay until a new contract commences. |
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| Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2022-08-10 |
