Taipei: The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has announced updated guidelines aimed at safeguarding the rights of foreign students interning in Taiwan. The new rules clarify student eligibility criteria, internship stipends, and working hours to ensure a fair and beneficial experience for interns.

According to Focus Taiwan, the revised "Guidelines Governing the Application of Foreign Students to the ROC in the Capacity of Interns in Enterprises and Organizations" require students to be enrolled at overseas universities officially recognized by Taiwan's Ministry of Education. Students must have completed at least one semester of study before arriving in Taiwan and be of an appropriate age for their program. Additionally, they are required to study a field relevant to their internship and possess basic Chinese or English communication skills to ensure the internship's quality and effectiveness.

Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin revealed that 1,805 foreign students were approved for internships in Taiwan last year, with opportunities spanning the food and beverage, logistics, and manufacturing sectors. He emphasized the importance of fair compensation, stating that interns must receive at least the minimum wage, which includes scholarships and living allowances. Interns' working hours are capped at eight hours per day and 40 hours per week, and they cannot be scheduled for shifts between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. without written consent, to prevent overwork.

The current minimum monthly wage in Taiwan is NT$29,500 (US$934), with an hourly rate of NT$196. The MOEA also stressed the necessity of appropriate insurance coverage for interns, such as group accident or occupational accident insurance, provided by the internship host.

To ensure compliance, the ministry plans to conduct joint inspections with relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Labor, on an irregular basis. Internship providers found violating these guidelines may face a six-month ban on hosting foreign interns.

Addressing potential concerns from businesses about increased costs due to these guidelines, Minister Kung stated that foreign interns "should not be treated as cheap labor." He noted that the ministry offers support measures for companies undergoing upgrades or restructuring and expressed confidence that the guidelines would balance business development with intern protection.