Taiwan's Ministry of Labor (MOL) clarified Sunday that employers can file a report as soon as migrant workers do not attend work without providing a suitable reason or cannot be contacted, and do not have to wait three days as the police recently informed an employer.
The announcement came after a complaint from an employer who was unable to contact the migrant employee he/she brought into the country after that individual arrived in Taiwan and completed COVID-19 quarantine.
According to local media reports, the police told the employer that he/she would have to wait at least three days before they could take the case.
In response, the MOL clarified that employers can report such cases immediately, citing Article 56 of the Employment Service Act, suggesting the police had misinterpreted the wording of the law.
The ministry also reminded members of the public that individuals who report on the illegal employment of migrant workers are entitled to a cash reward of NT$5,000-NT$70,000 (US$168-US$2,351) per case.
In addition, to prevent the illegal employment of migrant workers, a perennial problem in Taiwan, the MOL said, it has sent an amendment to the existing law to be reviewed by the Executive Yuan that introduces heavier penalties for illegal employers and brokers.
If approved, a fine ranging from NT$150,000 to NT$750,000 will be imposed in each case in which an employer is found guilty of illegally employing migrant workers, the MOL said, noting that illegal brokers can be fined between NT$300,000-NT$1.5 million for each worker they handle, compared with the current fine of NT$100,000-NT$500,000 per case.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel