Taiwan lifted its entry ban on migrant workers from Indonesia on Thursday, though the ban could be reintroduced for a two-month period leading up to next year's Lunar New Year holidays, according to the Ministry of Labor (MOL).
The announcement was made by MOL official Tsai Meng-liang (???), who said that Indonesia had agreed to comply with COVID-19 prevention measures requested by Taiwan, including a 21-day quarantine requirement, which is why Taiwan has opened its borders to migrant workers from the country.
The MOL is also discussing migrant worker entry with the governments of Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand, said Tsai, who heads the MOL's Workforce Development Agency.
If the talks are successful, migrant workers from these three countries will also be allowed into Taiwan, Tsai said.
The government of Thailand has expressed its willingness to cooperate with Taiwan's COVID-19 rules, so it is likely that Thailand will be the next country from which migrant workers are allowed in, Tsai added.
Taiwan banned the entry of Indonesian migrant workers in December 2020 in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases imported from the Southeast Asian country.
On May 19 this year, Taiwan banned the entry of all foreign nationals without residency, including migrant workers, following an unprecedented spike in domestic COVID-19 cases in Taiwan.
Lunar New Year pause
Despite reopening its borders to Indonesian migrant workers from Thursday, Tsai said that the number of migrant workers allowed in could be reduced to zero between Dec. 14 and Feb. 14.
The potential suspension is because a large number of overseas Taiwanese are expected to return for the Lunar New Year holidays during that time, and quarantine space is limited.
Whether any migrant workers are allowed in during the two-month period will depend on the availability of rooms at quarantine facilities, according to Tsai.
COVID-19 measures pre-departure
The measures that the Indonesian government has agreed to undertake -- which will also be required of other countries -- include reviewing disease prevention plans submitted by labor brokers and ensuring those plans are carried out, and compiling a list of fewer than 50 medical institutions that issue valid COVID-19 test results, Tsai said.
According to a statement released by the MOL, migrant workers need to be tested for COVID-19 before they enter work training centers in their home country.
They also need to get tested again three days before leaving for Taiwan and after getting tested, they have to stay in quarantine in the 72 hours leading up to their flight, the statement said.
Points-based entry system
The MOL will adopt a points-based system for the entry of migrant workers, with points issued based on vaccination status, the COVID-19 situation in the workers' home countries, and the dormitories offered by their employers in Taiwan.
Those with higher points will be given priority to enter Taiwan. The MOL will grant entry to an equal number of migrant workers in the domestic care and industry sectors.
Quarantine and testing rules
Migrant workers who arrive in Taiwan on or before Feb. 14 will have to spend the 14-day quarantine period and the subsequent seven-day self-health management period in government facilities, meaning they will have to spend a total of 21 days in quarantine.
These rules differ from that for other travelers to Taiwan, who can return home for the self-health management period and lead their lives as usual, as long as they do not attend large-scale gatherings or dine in large groups.
The MOL has previously said that the stricter rule was because migrant workers do not have a residence in Taiwan.
From Feb. 15, migrant workers may be allowed to quarantine in hotels as well as government facilities, and spend the self-health management period in dormitories approved by the MOL, though the MOL has not made a final decision in this regard.
In terms of testing, migrant workers will have to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon entry to Taiwan, another PCR test during quarantine, and then a rapid test during the self-health management period, according to the MOL.
The cost of quarantine facilities, COVID-19 testing, and transportation will be paid for by employers or the government.
Employers can decide whether to pay a salary to migrant workers during the 14-day quarantine period, but salaries must be paid for the workers' seven-day self-health management period.
Migrant workers who aren't paid during quarantine are allowed to apply for the quarantine subsidy offered by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
According to MOL figures, as of the end of September, there were 690,025 migrant workers in Taiwan, with the largest contingent of 245,365 coming from Indonesia, followed by 241,626 from Vietnam, 145,288 from the Philippines, and 57,738 from Thailand.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel