Taoyuan: Migrant worker advocacy groups have called on the Ministry of Labor (MOL) to provide a legal interpretation of the Labor Union Act following allegations that a broker intimidated migrant workers at a Taoyuan manufacturer to deter them from joining a union.

According to Focus Taiwan, the demand was made during a rally held outside the MOL as the ministry’s Tribunal for Unfair Labor Practice and Arbitration Committee prepared for a second hearing on the case. Wu Chia-ching, a consultant for the Taoyuan Confederation of Trade Unions (TCTU), stated that the TCTU received a complaint about migrant workers at the chemical manufacturer’s Yangmei plant being pressured into withdrawing from the union.

The union, which began accepting migrant members last year due to a decrease in new Taiwanese hires, initially received over 30 applications from Filipino and Indonesian workers. However, a broker managing these workers reportedly attempted to seize more than 10 applications after being informed of the union’s intentions.

Wu highlighted the fear among migrant workers of persecution by manpower brokers and recounted witnessing an incident of physical intimidation by a broker’s staffer. Following such pressures, 15 workers, mostly Indonesians, withdrew their applications, though around 20 chose to stay.

Tracy Sun, TCTU Secretary, emphasized the need for the MOL to provide a legal interpretation of Article 35 of the Labor Union Act to classify manpower brokers as employers’ representatives, which would prevent similar occurrences. This request is supported by other NGOs, including Ganas Community and Taiwan International Workers’ Association.

In response, MOL official Tsai Sheng-chieh affirmed that Article 35 aims to stop employers or their representatives from suppressing labor unions and interfering with workers’ rights to unionize. Tsai indicated that if the tribunal finds the brokers’ actions in violation of the act, the MOL will impose penalties.