Foreign worker crackdown seen paying off

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on September 6, 2006. It reports that the number of foreign workers whose whereabouts in Taiwan are unknown dropped from 23,547 in March to 21,153 in July 2006, thanks to the strength of a police crackdown.

The National Police Agency launched a drive in May 2006 to track down foreign laborers who have fled their workplace. Police seized 1,275 unaccounted-for foreign workers as the campaign came to a close in July 2006. A new crackdown began in late August and will last until mid-September 2006.

The crackdowns were triggered by reports that foreign workers are being exploited by their employers because they are not protected by legal contracts or the law. The National Police Agency urges foreign workers to protect their rights and interests by following the rules of their contract. The agency also reminds employers that those who hire illegal foreign workers can be fined up to NT$750,000.