Taiwan and Thailand Collaborate to Address Labor Shortage
In response to Taiwan’s aging and labor shortage issue, Taiwan and Thailand have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to introduce Thai workers to Taiwan. The move comes as both countries seek to address the challenges of an aging population and a shortage of skilled workers.
According to reports from Taiwan’s China Times and Thailand’s The Nation, the signing ceremony of the MOU took place on Friday, February 16th, at Taiwan’s labor ministry. The Taiwanese government official stated that due to the country’s aging population and shortage of skilled workers, it is crucial for the government to actively promote the introduction of foreign workers to meet the needs of various industries.
The official emphasized that the quality of Thai workers is stable and meets the demands of industries such as construction, manufacturing, domestic work, and agriculture in Taiwan. With the global competition for migrant workers intensifying, both countries are seeking to collaborate to ensure their needs are met and to avoid losing out in the international competition for talent.
The MOU stipulates that Taiwan will open up its industries and determine the number of workers needed, while Thailand will recruit and train workers based on Taiwan’s demand. The Taiwanese labor department also pointed out that the MOU will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review and that detailed discussions will be held with the Taiwanese government to implement the plan, including the opening of industries, the distribution of quotas, language skills, and the skills and recruitment of workers as per the employers’ specific needs.
This collaboration is expected to bring in around 100,000 Thai workers to Taiwan, according to the Taiwan labor ministry. The Thai government will also set up a law to inform its citizens about the opportunities in Taiwan for migrant workers.
With this collaboration, both countries aim to address labor shortages, particularly in the construction and agriculture sectors, and ensure that workers are not exploited and are protected under the labor laws of both countries.