Academic association supports gradual introduction of Indian workers

Taipei, Nov. 23 (CNA) The non-profit Taiwan Association for India Studies said Thursday that it supports the government gradually opening up sectors to Indian migrant workers, while calling for more exchanges between Taiwan and the South Asian country to promote mutual understanding.

The statement came in the wake of an online public backlash after an official source said earlier this month that Taiwan would sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with India by the end of the year, in a bid to hire Indian migrant workers to help address the country's labor shortage.

Since then, some netizens have posted comments on the Ministry of Labor's (MOL) Facebook page and social media platforms such as Dcard, suggesting that the policy would endanger "Taiwanese women's safety."

A group that opposes opening doors to more migrant worker source countries, set up a Facebook page urging people to take to the street on Dec. 3 to oppose the government's decision to hire migrant workers from more countries.

In response to the backlash, the association said in its statement that lots of Indians work around the world and are highly praised by the international community. Opening up sectors in Taiwan to Indian workers would also facilitate a better partnership between the two countries, it added.

Meanwhile, the association said that it was regrettable that there were "discriminatory comments" made against Indian workers, and vowed to help Taiwanese people overcome stereotypes about India by promoting Indian research and cultural exchanges through panel discussions and forums.

The association also reiterated that the backlash is an indication of the extent to which Taiwanese society is unfamiliar with Indian culture, leading to misunderstandings.

It suggested that related agencies take necessary moves to promote exchanges between Taiwan and India in areas such as media, youth, education and culture, so that Taiwanese people can better understand Indian society and the importance of the Taiwan-India relationship.

Meanwhile, the association urged the government to review current policies related to migrant workers and make improvements concerning the issue of low wages in Taiwan.

Responding to the statement, Su Kuo-yu (蘇國裕), head of the Cross-Border Workforce Management Division under the MOL, told CNA that the government still needs to finalize details of the MOU with India, including details about relevant sectors and the number of workers to be hired.

About 18 million Indian workers are employed in countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, Su noted.

In addition, around 2,700 Indian workers are currently employed in professional fields, such as the high-tech sector, in Taiwan, Su said, expressing hope that Taiwanese people can gain a better understanding of Indian workers.