Taiwan to open hospitality sector to migrant workers
Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui (周永暉) said Tuesday the agency will allow migrant workers to work in the hospitality sector in the second half of this year.
Chou said the hospitality industry must prioritize hiring local workers to protect domestic labor rights. He added that migrant workers employed in the sector will be required to have basic proficiency in English or Mandarin, per CNA.
The administration will discuss with the Ministry of Labor and the hotel association the number of migrant workers to be allowed into the sector, Chou said. He noted that once the relevant employment details are finalized, the administration will make a public announcement.
As of last year, Taiwan’s hospitality sector faced a labor shortage of around 8,000 workers. Among them, 5,500 were housekeeping and cleaning staff, while the rest were front-of-house and reception personnel. The labor ministry attributed the shortage to heavy workloads and relatively low salaries.