KUALA LUMPUR - Families in Taiwan with at least one child under the age of 12 will be allowed to apply to hire migrant domestic helpers starting April 13.

The new policy is aimed at easing childcare burdens and is expected to benefit more than 1.44 million households, as reported by Focus Taiwan. 

Speaking at the Executive Yuan on Wednesday, Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung said the government has decided to relax existing eligibility rules.

Under current regulations, only families with three children under the age of six are allowed to apply.

He said the requirement has been widely viewed as too strict.

As a result, only 2,003 of Taiwan’s more than 870,000 migrant workers were employed as domestic helpers as of late January.

According to the Ministry of Labour (MOL), these workers typically perform household duties such as cleaning and cooking.

Under the revised policy, households with one child under the age of 12 can apply to hire migrant domestic helpers.

Applicants must pay a minimum monthly salary of NT$20,000, along with a NT$5,000 employment security fee per worker.

The security fee is a government levy used to support labour welfare and the management of migrant workers.

Foreign employers will be required to pay NT$10,000 per worker per month.

The fee structure mirrors the existing system applied to both Taiwanese and foreign employers currently eligible to hire migrant domestic helpers.

Su Yu-kuo, an official from the MOL’s Workforce Development Agency, said disadvantaged and special-needs households will be prioritised during the application process.

He said the measure is intended to help such families secure assistance more quickly.

Su added that the policy change only affects eligibility criteria.

The source countries for migrant domestic helpers will remain the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Responding to concerns about potential labour market impacts, Chen said the government will introduce support measures for local workers.

He said the MOL will provide vocational training, employment incentives and living subsidies to assist local babysitters and domestic workers in transitioning to new roles.