The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced that the Taiwanese authorities have agreed to increase the minimum wage of newly-hired overseas workers, starting from August 10, 2022.
This is the first increase granted by the Taiwan government since 2015. DMW Secretary Susan Ople said that the wages will be increased especially for caregivers and domestic workers, who represent 25,867 overseas Filipino workers out of a total of 147,940 total working in Taiwan.
However, the hike in wages is relevant only for the newly hired, transferred, and re-hired workers. These segments of foreign workers will now receive at least 20,000 New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) monthly as an increase from 17,000 NTD. The Taiwanese Ministry of Labor also advised employers to increase the workers’ salaries after three and six years in service (in each case by 1,000 NTD), in order to actively retain their workers. Susan Ople also hopes that the household workers with existing contracts can benefit from salary increases in the future, considering their excellent and reliable service.
Ms. Ople also assured that the overseas Filipino workers living and working closest to China (such as in the Kinmen islands) are safe. Concerns for their safety were sparked by the drills conducted by the Chinese military close to the Taiwanese territory and in general by the growing tensions between China and Taiwan. The DMW is in touch with its overseas workers in Taiwan to keep an eye on the Filipino community there in case of further escalation.