TAIPEI - Advocacy groups have urged Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor (MOL) to ensure migrant workers are not left behind in the implementation of new workplace bullying prevention regulations set to take effect on July 1.

The Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR) and other groups raised the issue at a press conference in Taipei on June 29, saying that while they support the new rules, stronger measures are needed to ensure accessibility for foreign workers, as reported by Focus Taiwan.

The new provisions under the Occupational Safety and Health Act require employers to establish mechanisms to prevent workplace bullying and handle complaints.

They also define workplace bullying as repeated inappropriate words or behaviour by colleagues or supervisors who abuse their authority beyond reasonable business scope, resulting in physical or mental harm to workers.

"Workplace bullying against migrant workers is already widespread and happens every day," said TAHR senior researcher Shih Yi-hsiang.

He said many migrant workers remain silent due to fear of losing their jobs or facing retaliation.

Advocacy groups also raised concerns over the MOL’s rollout materials, which were initially released only in Chinese.

Shih said the lack of multilingual information could prevent migrant workers from understanding or using the new protections.

He added that past experiences, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, showed that migrant workers were often not prioritised in labour policy implementation.

Shih also questioned whether the 1955 migrant worker hotline had sufficient training to handle workplace bullying complaints effectively.

"The government should not prioritize local workers while neglecting migrant workers," he said.

In response, the MOL said English versions of the relevant provisions are already available.

It added that the 1955 hotline is prepared to handle enquiries from employers, workers and foreign nationals regarding the new rules.

The ministry also said it will expand outreach efforts by providing English translations of guidelines and informational materials in English, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai and Tagalog.

These materials will include simplified explanations and guidance on how to file complaints under the new system.

Taiwan is home to more than 800,000 migrant workers from Southeast Asia, many employed in manufacturing, caregiving and domestic work.