INTERVIEW/Labor minister cautions against migrant worker low-wage business model

Taipei, April 1 (CNA) Taiwan's Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) has said that industry should not view hiring migrant workers as a "silver bullet" to resolve the country's chronic labor shortages, warning against perpetuating a low-wage business model.

Taiwan's hoteliers and transportation companies have for months called on the government to allow them to recruit migrant workers, citing perennially unfilled vacancies in entry-level positions such as housekeepers, wait staff, and intercity bus drivers.

In a recent interview with CNA, Hung said the cause of labor shortages requires sector-oriented analysis to identify problems and rolling assessments of matching government measures.

In addition, recruiting migrant workers must not hurt the employment prospects of Taiwanese workers, and should not create an "anchoring effect" that could be used to justify low wages across Taiwan, Hung said.

Hung cited young freelancers/part-time workers and middle-aged and older workers as possible solutions to the labor shortage.

In the modern world, a growing number of young people prefer freelancing or working part-time, highlighting the fact that "members of younger generations prefer to have more control and flexibility over their schedules," Hung said.

Therefore, it might be more challenging for companies offering full-time positions to recruit young people, he said.

While it is not the Ministry of Labor's (MOL) intention to encourage freelancing or part-time work, it is necessary to improve protections for these two types of workers and to help businesses adapt to such trends, he added.

Meanwhile, as Taiwan is set to become a super-aged society soon, industry should not overlook the importance of middle-aged and elderly workers, Hung said.

The MOL's job is to help businesses create working environments that are friendly to middle-aged and elderly workers by, for example, defining specific roles and responsibilities and introducing necessary resources to ensure their successful integration into the workforce, he added.