Group 11:Migrant Workers Terms One-O-OneWe will dig into the terminology of Taiwan and Hong Kong migrant workers related aspects. Also, we will introduce the situation of domestic workers in Hong Kong and compare it with Taiwan’s. In order to provide a more detailed and analyzed final project to let others learn about those unfamiliar terms.
By defining the migrant worker related terminology, we can provide detailed insights for Taiwanese public to understand more about the situation now the Taiwan migrant workers are facing. By comparing the challenges facing the migrant workers in Hong Kong, we can learn from the experience of this nearby city and find out possibilities for alternate law amendments in Taiwan. We hope to construct a better, law-protected and friendly working environment for our dear workers in Taiwan. Team members:
Jia Cian Wu Yung Pei Lin Ho Yin Ng Sin Ying Tam |
Introduction
Taiwan:
【許可外工作 Work Without a Permit (WWP) violations】 In Taiwan, migrant workers can only work in specific professions (as factory workers, caregiver, or fishermen). The job contents of the professions are regulated by law. When migrant workers perform work that is not permitted by laws and regulations, voluntarily or involuntarily, it is called Work Without a Permit (WWP) violations. 【牛頭 Sponsors (Niu-tou)】 Sponsors are intermediaries between the migrant workers and the local broker agencies, Sponsors contact migrant workers in their origin countries. Sponsors work individually recruiting migrant workers at local area. (villages, towns, settlements etc.) Migrant workers refer them as “Sponsors”, but Taiwanese brokers calls them “Niu-tou” (牛頭 translated as head of the bulls). 【直聘 Direct Employment】 In the process of migrant worker direct recruitment, brokers are bypassed to avoid migrant workers from paying high agency fees, allowing employers to directly request the government and complete the administrative process of recruitment and hiring. The goal is to establish a more balanced labor agreement and reduce exploit on migrant workers. 【買工費 Gong-Buying Fee (for job or workers) 】 In Mandarin, both of these two terms are called as the same: Gong-Buying fee(買工費), since Gong has the meaning of both “workers” and “jobs” depends on the situation. Basically the fee describes an additional charge toward the employers and workers from the brokers. 【洗工 Job Laundering】 The working hours, salary, legal protection, and working conditions of caregiver migrant workers in Taiwan are generally worse than those of factory workers. Therefore, many caregiver workers strongly demand to be converted into factory workers. When this occurs in large numbers at the same time, it will be described as Job Laundering. |
Hong Kong:
【法定假日 Statutory holiday】 Each employer must allow their foreign domestic helper has resting time for at least 24 hours a week. The rest day does not have to be the same day in every week, but the employer should notify the date to the helper before the beginning of each month. 【外傭居港權 FDHs' right of abode case】 It was a court case against the government of Hong Kong by two foreign domestic helpers seeking permanent residence in Hong Kong. Due to the Basic Law, it allows people who live in Hong Kong for seven consecutive years are eligible to become Hong Kong resident, but migrant workers are not allowed to do so because their staying time only count as “contract workers”. 【跳工 Job-hopping】 Generally, if the foreign domestic helper terminates the contract during the two-year contract period, they must leave Hong Kong and return to their homeland within two weeks after the termination. The helper may intentionally fail their works to force the employer to dismiss them in order to switch employers. In order to save transporting fee and reduce the risk of the epidemic, many employers hire foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong in a higher salary, thus exacerbating the problem of Job-hopping. 【訓練費 Training fees】 Before working in Hong Kong, some helpers have to attend training “involuntary” in their homeland. If so, they can request their agency to pay for the training fee. However, the burden of this fee often transferred to the employers, which always become a dilemma for the migrant workers since some helpers may worry that their relationship with the employers will be affected after their requests. 【爛橙 Rotten oranges】 When a migrant workers terminate their 2-year contract, which is not due to specific reasons like death of the employer, employer permanent leave Hong Kong, financial problem of the employer or being sex assaulted by the employer, would be called “Rotten oranges”. If the foreign helpers has resigned for too many times, Department of Immigration can refuse their further visa applications. |