Brokers Appeal for Legalizing the Collection of Second Placement Fees to Migrant Workers in Taiwan

Brokers Appeal for Legalizing the Collection of Second Placement Fees to Migrant Workers in Taiwan

The Ministry of Labor held a meeting with multiple labor groups and employment agencies to come up with an agreement on the service fees charged to migrant workers who are planning to renew their contracts after their three years of stay in Taiwan.




The amendment to the Employment Service Act in 2016 had allowed the renewal of the contracts of migrant workers with blue-collar jobs in Taiwan after three years.

Based on the law, brokers are not permitted to charge another placement fee if migrant workers desire to recommence their contracts after their three-year work in Taiwan.

Brokers request the Taiwan government to reconsider the prohibition of charging a second placement fee for migrant workers who plan on renewing their contracts after three years in Taiwan. The plea of these labor agencies is due to the burden caused by the additional operating expenses incurred for the renewal of employment contracts.




Chen Hsiu-lien, a member of the Taiwan International Worker’s Association, suggested that the labor agencies in Taiwan should openly share to the public their operations and cost concerns. Chen Hsiiu-lien also added in his statement that the brokers should also share with the community the details of the extra fees they charge to migrant workers and employers.

The fee that is being collected by the labor agencies is called “job-buying fees” and it is illegal in Taiwan.
According to the Migrant Empowerment Network in Taiwan, despite the restriction of the law on charging a second placement fee for migrant workers who had finished their contracts, they are still asked by labor agencies to pay NT $20,000 to NT $100,000 to renew their employment contracts in Taiwan.