Taipei: The Ministry of Labor (MOL) is set to amend work regulations that would allow foreign students, including those of Taiwanese descent, who graduated from a Taiwanese university to work in six types of jobs categorized by the ministry as "intermediate-skilled" jobs. The planned revisions represent an interdepartmental effort to tackle a growing labor shortage, the MOL said.
According to Focus Taiwan, an estimate by the National Development Council forecasts a shortfall of 400,000 workers in Taiwan's industries by 2030. The six types of jobs identified for foreign students are assistant nurse, intercity and city bus driver, safety management system (SMS) personnel, inventory clerk, cargo vehicle drivers, and cargo vehicle driving assistants. Chuang Kuo-liang, deputy head of the Workforce Development Agency's (WDA) Cross-Border Workforce Management Division, shared these details on Tuesday.
Under the draft amendments, the minimum monthly salary for graduated foreign students, including those of Taiwanese descent, is set at NT$34,000 (US$1,030.3) for assistant nurses; NT$39,000 for inventory clerks; NT$43,000 for cargo vehicle drivers or assistant drivers; and NT$50,000 for intercity and city bus drivers and SMS personnel, according to Chuang.
The positions will be accessible to graduated students from Hong Kong and Macau but will exclude those from China. Workforce Management Division head Su Yu-kuo highlighted that Taiwanese businesses must secure approval from competent authorities to hire Chinese workers under Taiwanese law.
The amendments will focus on employment qualifications, skill requirements, and regulations on changing employers. Su Yu-kuo stated that the amendments will enter a public review period by the end of this month at the earliest, allowing the public to provide input before they are enacted.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has estimated a demand for 25,000 to 35,000 foreign nursing assistants. Additionally, the Highway Bureau aims to recruit 613 intercity bus drivers, 30 SMS personnel, and 2,300 cargo vehicle drivers and assistant drivers once the amendments are in effect.