As Taiwan Becomes "Super-Aged," Gov't Hopes to Retain More Migrant Workers

TaiwanPlus News

More than a fifth of Taiwan's population is set to be 65 or older this year. With demographic decline and a shrinking workforce, the government hopes to keep more migrant workers in the country to help plug gaps.

Transcript

00:00Anna, from Indonesia, has been caring for Taiwan's elderly and disabled for over a decade.

00:05Until recently, migrant workers like her could only stay in Taiwan for 12 to 14 years total,

00:10meaning she'd have to leave for good before too much longer.

00:13But thanks to a rule change that took effect in 2022,

00:17migrant workers with at least six years' experience can apply to stay on,

00:20with a guaranteed higher wage.

00:23She's excited to have been approved in January.

00:25I don't want to go home.

00:26Why?

00:27She is lucky because her employer wanted her to stay too.

00:40He's gone through multiple caregivers but found a good match in Anna.

00:43Behind this story is a sharp demographic decline

00:58that's left Taiwan running out of options to fill crucial roles.

01:02This is the year Taiwan's projected to become a super-aged society,

01:06with a fifth of the population in the 65 or older group.

01:09Migrant labor has helped plug this gap.

01:28As of the end of April, there were more than 833,000 migrant workers in Taiwan,

01:33the majority from Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

01:36They do a range of jobs, from factory work to in-home care.

01:41The program aims to make Taiwan more attractive to these workers

01:43by offering a longer career, rather than just a decade or so,

01:47to make as much money as possible.

01:49But even some who welcome the idea are uneasy.

01:53Those who are allowed to stay are owed higher pay,

01:55and making up the difference could prove tough

01:58for the many low-income people employing caregivers.

02:00They agree conditions should be better, but who's going to foot the bill?

02:05The labor ministry is providing some help.

02:21It will hand out monthly subsidies worth around 100 U.S. dollars

02:25to employers for the first three years.

02:28It's also going to waive a monthly fee employers normally have to pay

02:31to ensure migrant workers' employment stability,

02:34making it less expensive to retain experienced workers.

02:38Faced with the reality of a quickly aging population,

02:41the hope is that experienced migrant workers

02:43who've come to know Taiwan will keep their skills here.

02:46John Su and John Van Trieste for Taiwan Plus.

02:49Thanks for joining us.

02:58Very nice.

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