KUALA LUMPUR - Migrant workers marched in Taipei yesterday (7 December) to demand the abolition of Taiwan’s 12-year employment cap for blue-collar foreign workers.

More than 100 marchers carried mock mortar shells to symbolise the countdown that threatens to disrupt their lives once their work-year limit expires.

Taiwan introduced the Long-term Retention of Skilled Foreign Workers Programme in 2022 to allow qualified blue-collar workers to stay beyond the 12-year ceiling.

The programme enables workers with at least five years of intermediate-level technical experience and a salary twice the minimum wage, or a Class B technician certificate, to apply for permanent residency under the Immigration Act.

Employers, however, must submit the permit applications on behalf of workers, leaving the decision largely in employers’ hands.

Migrant Empowerment Network in Taiwan spokeswoman Wu Jing-ru described the system as deceptive, saying workers often tolerate unfair treatment in exchange for better chances at qualification.

She said most workers struggle to obtain higher salaries, making the pathway to residency unrealistic for many.

Wu argued that the right to work in Taiwan without restriction should not be treated as a privilege granted by employers.

She added that blue-collar workers contribute equally to Taiwan and deserve fair treatment without discrimination.

The Ministry of Labour has announced a Migrant Workforce Enhancement Plan that will allow employers to hire an additional migrant worker for every NT$2,000 pay rise given to a local worker.

Wu said the proposal wrongly frames the issue as competition between local and migrant labour.

She said employers already contribute to the national employment security fund, which is meant to protect local workers from the impact of migrant hiring.

She warned that raising salaries for only select local employees will not resolve wage stagnation and may create unnecessary conflict.

Advocates said Taiwan faces a shortage of skilled labour and should lift the work-year limit to retain experienced workers.

Labour ministry data showed that Taiwan had 42,752 intermediate-level migrant workers as of September, compared with 858,939 blue-collar migrant workers overall.

This means only 4.7 per cent of migrant workers have qualified for intermediate skilled status in more than three years.

The network said many capable workers cannot apply because employers prefer lower-paid newcomers.

It also said international employment agencies often block applications because they profit more from bringing in fresh hires.