Association Calls for End to NT$2,000 Monthly Fee for Families of Migrant Caregivers
A civic group is calling on Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor (MOL) to abolish the controversial monthly “employment stabilization” fee of NT$2,000 (approximately US$61.56), which is currently levied on families who recruit migrant caregivers. The fee is imposed when a care recipient scores below a certain threshold on the Barthel Index, a tool used to assess the level of care needed by individuals.
At a press conference held in Taipei on Tuesday, the International Association of Family and Employers with Disabilities voiced its concerns, calling the fee an unfair “handicap tax” that adds undue financial burden to families already coping with the challenges of caring for loved ones with disabilities or serious illnesses.
The Controversy Behind the Employment Stabilization Fee
The purpose of the “employment stabilization” fee is to offset the potential impact on Taiwanese caregivers’ job opportunities when migrant caregivers are hired. The government argues that employing migrant workers in the caregiving sector may reduce available jobs for local citizens.
However, the association claims that this rationale is flawed, as very few Taiwanese citizens are willing to take on live-in caregiving roles. Tung Wen-hsun (童文薰), CEO of the association, emphasized that the fee, which is intended to support the system, is not achieving its stated purpose.
According to Tung, the actual beneficiaries of the fee are not the intended Taiwanese workers but rather individuals reporting absconding migrant workers, with funds being misused for things like paying cash rewards and purchasing flight tickets for the deportation of detained migrant workers.
Calls for Exemption for Families with Seriously Ill Members
The association is demanding that families with seriously ill members who require migrant caregivers, as determined by the Barthel Index, be exempted from paying the employment stabilization fee. This would apply especially to families caring for those with severe medical conditions or disabilities, who rely on migrant caregivers for day-to-day assistance.
As of Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Labor had not responded to inquiries regarding the demand for the abolition of the fee.
Opposition Support and Allegations of Fund Misuse
During the news conference, opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislator Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) expressed support for the association’s call to remove the employment stabilization fee. Wang also accused former Minister of Labor, Hsu Ming-chun (許銘春), of misusing the funds, specifically pointing to a controversial concert event in Kaohsiung, which was reportedly funded by the stabilization fee.
According to reports, Hsu allegedly spent NT$3.56 million from the fund to hold a “concert” celebrating the 20th anniversary of Taiwan’s Gender Equality in Employment Act, during which she performed for 30 minutes. Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) also called for an investigation into the use of the fund, after discovering the event’s questionable expenses.
Investigation and Calls for Accountability
In response to the allegations, current Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) stated that the existing system would undergo a “strict review” to ensure that the funds are properly allocated. Hung added that an investigation is needed to uncover the full extent of any mismanagement or misuse of the funds and to ensure transparency in the system moving forward.
Table: Key Points Regarding the Employment Stabilization Fee Controversy
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Fee Amount | NT$2,000 (approx. US$61.56) monthly fee for families employing migrant caregivers with low Barthel Index scores. |
| Purpose of Fee | Intended to stabilize the employment of Taiwanese caregivers when families hire migrant workers. |
| Controversy | The fee has been criticized as a “handicap tax” and misappropriated to fund rewards and deportation flights. |
| Demand for Exemption | The International Association of Family and Employers with Disabilities calls for exemptions for severely ill members. |
| Allegations of Misuse of Funds | Allegations of improper use of stabilization funds, including expenses for a concert by former Minister Hsu. |
| Legislator Support | Support for abolition from KMT and TPP lawmakers, calling for a probe into the fund’s management. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the employment stabilization fee? | It is a monthly fee of NT$2,000 collected from families who hire migrant caregivers, intended to stabilize local employment. |
| Why is the fee being criticized? | The fee is seen as a financial burden, and the funds are accused of being misused for rewards and deportation costs. |
| Who supports the abolition of the fee? | The International Association of Family and Employers with Disabilities, as well as some opposition lawmakers, support abolishing the fee. |
| What is the Barthel Index? | The Barthel Index is a tool used to assess the care needs of individuals, with a low score indicating the need for caregiver support. |
| What is being done about the allegations of fund misuse? | The Minister of Labor has called for a strict review of the system, and investigations are underway into how the funds have been spent. |
