Taipei: The Ministry of Labor (MOL) unveiled a reference guide aimed at assisting Taiwanese businesses in preventing forced labor and mitigating operational risks amidst increasing global scrutiny over migrant workers' rights within the country's supply chains.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lydia Huang, head of MOL's Workforce Development Agency, emphasized that the guide is designed to help businesses develop effective mechanisms to prevent forced labor and incorporate respect for human rights into supply chain management. At a news conference in Taipei, Huang highlighted previous instances where Taiwanese companies faced consequences such as product detention and import bans due to forced labor conditions.
A prominent case involved Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd., a bicycle maker, whose Taiwan-made products were detained by U.S. authorities last September over forced labor allegations, resulting in an ongoing import ban. Other sectors in Taiwan, such as distant-water fishing and manufacturing, have also faced similar accusations, raising concerns among international organizations and foreign governments.
The guide's release follows the recent Taiwan-U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, which includes labor protections like banning imports of goods produced with forced labor. It introduces the International Labour Organization's 11 forced labor indicators, which encompass signs like debt bondage, movement restrictions, excessive overtime, and retention of identity documents.
Huang noted that the guide provides a self-assessment form for businesses, tools for identifying forced labor risks, corrective measures, case studies, an overview of relevant domestic laws, and an introduction to major international audit tools. The aim is for businesses to establish a foundational understanding and internal management procedures, with the hope that these practices extend across downstream supply chains, particularly for brand owners.
Though the guide is not mandatory, MOL plans to promote it through briefings and outreach sessions in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture. Huang characterized the guide as a "soft-law" approach, primarily aimed at advising businesses, while acknowledging the potential need for it to be codified into law in the future. Current laws like the Employment Service Act and the Labor Standards Act address many forced labor indicators, but neither the guide nor the press event announced any new enforcement measures by the authorities.