No plans to bring in 100,000 Indian workers: Labor minister

Taipei, Dec. 23 (CNA) The government has no plans to bring in as many as 100,000 migrant workers from India to Taiwan, Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春) said Saturday, in an apparent reference to comments made by Kuomintang (KMT) presidential nominee Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜).

In a press release, Hsu said Taipei had not signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with New Delhi to bring in migrant workers, adding that the issue was subject to continued evaluation regarding employment cooperation.

Any claims about Taiwan seeking to open its doors to 100,000 Indian workers are "fake," made by "ill-intentioned people" to manipulate public opinion for electoral gains, Hsu said.

Hsu's statement came after KMT nominee Hou incorrectly cited Bloomberg News as reporting that an MOU had already been signed to bring in Indian migrant workers.

Hou's assertion, made during a televised policy presentation forum Wednesday, was a likely reference to a Nov. 10 Bloomberg report regarding a prospective MOU between Taiwan and India.

While the Nov. 10 report did state that plans were in the works for an "employment mobility agreement," it did not claim an MOU had already been signed.

Citing "senior officials familiar with the matter," the report stated that an agreement to bring "as many as 100,000" Indian migrant workers to Taiwan could be signed as early as December this year.

Later on Saturday, Hou's campaign office issued a statement noting Hsu herself had said in November that Taiwan and India were set to sign an MOU by the end of the year to bring in migrant workers.

Given that there are only nine days left before the end of 2023, Hsu should clarify when the MOU would be signed, and how many Indian workers would come to Taiwan according to the pact, Hou's office said.

On Nov. 13, Hsu told local media that Taiwan and India "are expected to sign an MOU by the end of the year" to bring in migrant workers after the Cabinet signed off on the plan.

Hsu later walked back the prospective timeline, stating in December that no date had been set for the MOU's signing.