The number of foreign graduates who have obtained permission to extend their stay in Taiwan to seek employment has surged since a new policy took effect in January, reaching 3,239 as of the end of last month, the National Development Council said yesterday.
The figure compares with just 281 applications for the whole of last year, before the policy took effect, indicating a significant increase in the number of graduates seeking to remain in Taiwan for employment, the council said.
The amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) that took effect in January state that foreign students who earn an associate degree or higher in Taiwan can apply to extend their stay in the country for up to two years.
Photo: Wu Hsin-tien, Taipei Times
They can work without obtaining a separate work permit during the extended stay, while their family members can also apply to remain in Taiwan, the council said.
The changes give graduates more time to explore career options and find suitable jobs after graduation, it said.
They also simplify the hiring process by eliminating the need for employers to separately apply to the Ministry of Labor for work permits during the extended stay, it said.
During the extended stay, graduates are not subject to restrictions on the types of professional or technical jobs they can take, employer qualifications or minimum salary thresholds.
They can work in any field as long as they comply with labor laws, and after the extended stay ends, can transition to other residency programs based on a points system or regulations governing foreign professionals, the council said.
Allowing foreign graduates to enter the labor market can help strengthen the country’s pool of skilled workers, boost industrial competitiveness and help companies expand into overseas markets, it said.
As of last month, 25,000 foreign graduates were working in Taiwan, accounting for about 40 percent of all foreign professional workers, it said.
To help foreign graduates pursue careers in Taiwan, the government’s Talent Taiwan Office, a service center dedicated to recruiting foreign professionals and helping them adapt to life in the country, offers guidance on work applications, visa assistance, one-on-one consultations and job matching, the council said.
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