Taipei Times: As far as I understand it, there are more than 100,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan.
Rudolfo Sabulao: Yes, about 86,000 are documented, while about 2,600 are undocumented. The rest are Filipinos who have married Taiwanese nationals.
TT: And they work in a variety of sectors?
Sabulao: Yes, about 63,000 work in factories and about 25,000 in social services, such as caretakers and caregivers.
The rest are in the construction industry as semi-skilled workers and professionals. Others are fishermen and nursing aides, or work in nursing homes.
TT: What role does MECO play in trying to improve the working conditions of Filipino workers in Taiwan?
Sabulao: MECO is the representative office of the Republic of the Philippines here in Taiwan ... It is part of our foreign policy to promote and secure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, including Filipino nationals who have married Taiwanese nationals. MECO is at the forefront of all these activities. It links up with the concerned agencies of the host government to ensure that Filipino nationals in Taiwan are safe and protected.
TT: If a local worker has a complaint about his or her working conditions and comes to MECO, what is the process?
Sabulao: We raise the matter with the Labor Bureau, as the Labor Bureau of the location where the worker is employed has jurisdiction over the workplace. It has an inspection mechanism to attend to problems in the workplace, such as violations of labor standards and violations pertaining to working conditions. So they inspect to validate the complaint.
If that condition exists, then the investigation is done and appropriate penalties are imposed upon those who are accountable for the violation.
The enforcement of the law is done by the local government units. So we coordinate closely with the local government.
TT: What advice would you have for Filipino workers coming to Taiwan?
Sabulao: These are the cardinal requirements: Observe the laws, do not break a contract, do not run away from the workplace. Otherwise you will lose your status. So if there are problems, we advise them to work it out first with their employers and their brokers, or call us.
TT: As far as the Taiwanese authorities go, is there any particular situation that MECO feels should be the object of closer scrutiny?
Sabulao: Yes. First is the need to address the policy of some employers not to give migrant workers a single day off during the month. So we’re asking the Council of Labor Affairs [CLA]: “Give the workers a rest day,” at least one day so they can make remittances and get full rest.
Under Taiwanese labor laws, [migrant] workers are supposed to have at least one day off per week.
What employers do is give “overtime pay” to employees who have to work on Sundays, but that is not enough. They are human beings and they need to rest, at least once a month.
TT: So there are some employers who are basically not giving these workers any days off?
Sabulao: Yes, and we have already informed the CLA about it.
A second item that needs attention is that employers should not take custody or take possession of a migrant worker’s passport.
Passports are supposed to be handled by the national — in this case by Filipino nationals.
Actually, passports are owned by the government. It is the Filipino national who has the privilege to possess the passport, which has been granted by and issued by the government.
Even under Taiwanese law, it is a violation to hold people’s passports. As foreign nationals, we are directed to bring with us our passports every time we leave, every time we travel in this country.
TT: But what can Filipino workers do if their employer tells them they have to turn over their passport?
Sabulao: Just inform MECO.
Right now, we are finalizing an agreement with the CLA whereby employers who are found to be keeping passports may be blacklisted by the Philippine government, which could mean that they would be barred from hiring Filipinos.
This is one of the major areas. Under this particular agreement, we would also inform the CLA so that it could carry out its own investigation and, if necessary, impose the appropriate penalties under Taiwanese laws.
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