Taipei: Migrant workers will soon be allowed to work in Taiwan’s hospitality sector if they earn a minimum monthly wage of NT$32,000 (US$1,041.58), an official said Thursday. Chen Yu-hsiu, the director-general of the Tourism Administration, informed lawmakers that the industry can begin hiring intermediate skilled migrant workers in the first quarter of next year to perform duties such as housekeeping, cleaning, front desk, and food service.
According to Focus Taiwan, the policy is part of a package approved by the Cabinet on Thursday morning, designed to address labor shortages while safeguarding job opportunities for local workers. To hire a migrant worker as intermediate staff, a hospitality operator must first increase the monthly salary of a local employee by NT$2,000, Cheng Yi-ping, a deputy division chief at the Tourism Administration, told reporters.
Migrant workers in the hospitality sector must be paid at least NT$32,000 per month, compared to the minimum wage of NT$29,500 set to take effect at the beginning of next year. The number of migrant workers employed at a business will be capped at 10 percent of the employer’s workforce. Basic Mandarin proficiency will be required for these workers, with the Ministry of Labor determining salary thresholds and qualification requirements.
Cheng stated that the program will primarily recruit workers from the Philippines to help fill the industry’s labor shortage of 6,600. Eligible businesses include tourist hotels licensed by the Tourism Administration and hotels registered with local governments, but exclude homestays with fewer than eight or 15 rooms, depending on their location.
According to the Tourism Administration, a 2023 survey indicated a labor shortage of 6,600 housekeeping and cleaning staff in the hospitality sector. From April 2023 to September 2024, the agency offered a NT$5,000 subsidy for each qualified worker, enhancing the industry’s capacity to serve international guests. Additionally, the agency has proposed easing regulations to permit foreign students to work in the hospitality industry after graduation or to relax rules on their internships.