|
Group 3：Migrants in the face of the invisibles- Covid-19COVID-19 is an important factor that contributes to migrant workers’ vulnerability in 2020 and 2021, affecting their health and life in various aspects. The chart below shows the average degree of the epidemic impact on daily living across different regions. (Chart: Emanuela Barbiroglio/ WHO, 2020) According to WHO’s survey, 54 percent of the respondents considered their access to work worsened due to COVID-19. Thus, our group attempts to investigate the influences the epidemic has on the migrant workers. We will further present the problems and incidents that migrants may encounter in Taiwan.
Team members：
Aryna Hsu Hey guys! I am Aryna from Taipei, Taiwan. I love watching movies. :) Lucy Li I’m Lucy from Taipei, Taiwan, and I’m from the English department. Junya Hada I am a freshman from the international college of innovation. I am from Tokyo, Japan. Benjamin Hsu Hi y’all! I’m Benjamin from Taipei, Taiwan, and I am majoring in psychology. |
Introduction
|
COVID-19 is an important factor that contributes to migrant workers’ vulnerability in 2020 and 2021, affecting their health and life in various aspects. The chart below shows the average degree of the epidemic impact on daily living across different regions. (Chart: Emanuela Barbiroglio/ WHO, 2020) According to WHO’s survey, 54 percent of the respondents considered their access to work worsened due to COVID-19. Thus, our group attempts to investigate the influences the epidemic has on the migrant workers. We will further present the problems and incidents that migrants may encounter in Taiwan.
Also, we will provide several useful websites as well. We hope you can take some time to read some of the sources listed. You’ll be shocked at how hard the migrants have tried to survive here. |
|
Things you may not know about the migrants' lives here in Taiwan
|
I.
On May 28, several migrant fishermen were reported to the police for not having their masks on when taking shower outside a public restroom in Kaohsiung. Two of them were later fined by the police officer. II. On June 2nd, the Miaoli Country Government imposed a discriminatory restriction on migrant workers, barring them from leaving their dorms with the exception of going to work. The magistrate has claimed the controversial measure was aimed to contain the present covid outbreak. However, it has raised concerns from TIWA and other human rights groups. (The ban has since been lifted on June 29th.) |
|
|
Despite how much we loathe to admit both of the unfortunate incidents, we are pained to confess that they both occurred in Taiwan--the land we all love.
Let’s check out how the news media react to this incident in Taiwan. Said New York Times on June 18, 2021 |
|
II.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, Taiwan once started a real-name system on buying masks to make sure everyone in Taiwan gets equal opportunities to masks in 2020. However, the migrants didn’t have reasonable access to masks. They were alienated. ☞Some of you may think… “As a Taiwanese, I personally find the real-name regulation reasonable. It’s very convenient for me to buy masks. An identity card or health ID card will do. What’s the problem?” |
|
Here’s the problem.
Migrants don’t have the mandatory identity cards to buy masks since a lot of the employers often keep the ID cards for them.
Without the cards, their identity cannot be verified.
The real-name system lasted for a long time.
Even if the migrant workers did have the ID cards, they worked very long hours, and seldom had a day off.
Even if they had time for masks, during the real-name regulation period, people had to que up for hours before they actually got the masks.
Few employers could tolerate the migrants’ absence for so long.
The supply of masks gradually became more sufficient after a year of COVID-19 invasion.
But still, the migrant workers endured almost a year of unfair regulations.
What’s more, due to the latest COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Taiwan, the prices of masks have risen. It has once again become hard to buy masks because they are in high demand now.
Even if you have the money, you’ll have to wait for a while.
Know more about the overall masks problem
Podcast from 「鏡好聽」：我們有讓在台外籍移工參與防疫嗎？
Host:
台大風險中心 陳貝裘X 台灣國際勞工協會TIWA研究員陳秀蓮
This podcast talks about several issues, including how the migrants buy masks, how they have trouble receiving COVID-19 prevention measures, and what kind of employment issues the migrants need to deal with.
Migrants don’t have the mandatory identity cards to buy masks since a lot of the employers often keep the ID cards for them.
Without the cards, their identity cannot be verified.
The real-name system lasted for a long time.
Even if the migrant workers did have the ID cards, they worked very long hours, and seldom had a day off.
Even if they had time for masks, during the real-name regulation period, people had to que up for hours before they actually got the masks.
Few employers could tolerate the migrants’ absence for so long.
The supply of masks gradually became more sufficient after a year of COVID-19 invasion.
But still, the migrant workers endured almost a year of unfair regulations.
What’s more, due to the latest COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Taiwan, the prices of masks have risen. It has once again become hard to buy masks because they are in high demand now.
Even if you have the money, you’ll have to wait for a while.
Know more about the overall masks problem
Podcast from 「鏡好聽」：我們有讓在台外籍移工參與防疫嗎？
Host:
台大風險中心 陳貝裘X 台灣國際勞工協會TIWA研究員陳秀蓮
This podcast talks about several issues, including how the migrants buy masks, how they have trouble receiving COVID-19 prevention measures, and what kind of employment issues the migrants need to deal with.
Things you may be interested
I. 台灣國際勞工協會 FB專頁TIWA
The fan page includes comprehensive contents, ranging from information written in migrants’ mother tongue to online press conferences held to defy unfair governmental restrictions.
The page was established to foster mutual communication between migrants and the local community. We hope the voices of the migrants can he heard as well.
Please take a look at this fan page.
If you do not understand Mandarin, the page provides some English contents, too.
II. 台灣新聞Taiwan News
The link includes some pieces of news and the latest events about migrants in Taiwan.
If you’re lost in this website, please click the “Taiwan News” hyperlink above and check the left column. You’ll see a category called” NEW IMMIGRANTS”. This is it!
Remember to stay tuned to the latest news! J
☞It may not be all about the migrants’ hardships in Taiwan, but it does help us know them more.
III. 1095
The link here will direct you to a webpage on The News Lens. It is an online forum established by 1095, which is a NGO supporting the migrants.
There are many articles that help uncover the dark sides of the migrants lives in Taiwan.
IV. 移人 Migrants’ Park
This is the first online media that focuses on the migrants’ stories. Many migrant-related events are continuously updated here. Moreover, news reports from different social media platform or news media are shared. Translations for the migrants are provided in some of the posts as well.
Most importantly, they share up-to-date events held for migrants constantly, such as exhibitions on the migrants’ lives and migrants’ music festivals. If you are willing to attend some events, you can always find a way in this fan page.
The fan page includes comprehensive contents, ranging from information written in migrants’ mother tongue to online press conferences held to defy unfair governmental restrictions.
The page was established to foster mutual communication between migrants and the local community. We hope the voices of the migrants can he heard as well.
Please take a look at this fan page.
If you do not understand Mandarin, the page provides some English contents, too.
II. 台灣新聞Taiwan News
The link includes some pieces of news and the latest events about migrants in Taiwan.
If you’re lost in this website, please click the “Taiwan News” hyperlink above and check the left column. You’ll see a category called” NEW IMMIGRANTS”. This is it!
Remember to stay tuned to the latest news! J
☞It may not be all about the migrants’ hardships in Taiwan, but it does help us know them more.
III. 1095
The link here will direct you to a webpage on The News Lens. It is an online forum established by 1095, which is a NGO supporting the migrants.
There are many articles that help uncover the dark sides of the migrants lives in Taiwan.
IV. 移人 Migrants’ Park
This is the first online media that focuses on the migrants’ stories. Many migrant-related events are continuously updated here. Moreover, news reports from different social media platform or news media are shared. Translations for the migrants are provided in some of the posts as well.
Most importantly, they share up-to-date events held for migrants constantly, such as exhibitions on the migrants’ lives and migrants’ music festivals. If you are willing to attend some events, you can always find a way in this fan page.
