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Group 6：The Voices Needed to be HeardThroughout this course, we were exposed to different types of migration, shocked by the suffering cases of immigrants, and inspired by groups of people taking actions to help. Back to the country we now stay in, there are cases of inequality, maltreatment, and ignorance of migrant workers, and we see placement fees as one of the culprits of these issues.
In this project, placement fee refers to the fees charged to make a migrant worker’s job successfully placed, which includes the registration fee, introduction fee, and all kinds of service fees. We found that placement fee is significantly influencing several stakeholders, while some of them are taking actions to call for its abolition, which is commonly called “zero placement fee policy”. Before, throughout, and after the policy implementation, the stakeholders might be faced with challenges, setbacks, and unfair treatments, which should not be underestimated. Their voices need to be heard. Last but not least, we would like to state that, in this issue, there is no absolute right or wrong, as people in different positions would have different concerns and agenda. Also, the aim of this project is not to reach a conclusion or come up with a “best” solution. The key is about negotiation. We look forward to your visit, and hope that after knowing more about zero placement fee policy, it would be easier for you to understand the various background and perspectives of the stakeholders, to stand in their shoes, and to have a clearer picture of what is going on. Team members：
廖柏全 Paul 璩妘安 Cya 張芫禎 Chang Pham Thu Phuong Dory |
Introduction
We use different formats to show the various perspectives on the zero placement fee policy.
1. Brokers in sending countries and Taiwan:
As brokers’ actions are key background information, we will introduce how the broker system works.
2. Migrant workers:
Inspired by A Guard’s Story, we drew comics to tell a story of a migrant worker whose life changed a lot due to the placement fee.
Here we would also like to share two documentaries, Goodbye, Lovable Strangers, and The Lucky Woman, from which we have learned a lot!
3. Taiwanese employers:
We made a TV show, in which we played as the host, employer of migrant caregivers, manufacturer who complies with the policy and who does not. The main topic is about the current situations about migrant worker recruitment and zero placement fees, including how it works, how it would influence the industry, and what we think about it.
4. Governments:
Governments’ roles are very important in this topic (well, every stakeholder is for sure). We wrote “news reports” about what the governments have done in response to the placement fees issues, which are highly connected to NGOs’ movements.
5. NGOs:
Non-governmental organizations from home and abroad have made great efforts to help improve migrant workers’ rights, including advocating for zero placement fee.
As social media has become a great platform for people to share and exchange ideas, we can see the power of social media making changes to migrant workers’ lives. Thus, we transform the information into Instagram posts, hoping that we can make it easier to read.
1. Brokers in sending countries and Taiwan:
As brokers’ actions are key background information, we will introduce how the broker system works.
2. Migrant workers:
Inspired by A Guard’s Story, we drew comics to tell a story of a migrant worker whose life changed a lot due to the placement fee.
Here we would also like to share two documentaries, Goodbye, Lovable Strangers, and The Lucky Woman, from which we have learned a lot!
3. Taiwanese employers:
We made a TV show, in which we played as the host, employer of migrant caregivers, manufacturer who complies with the policy and who does not. The main topic is about the current situations about migrant worker recruitment and zero placement fees, including how it works, how it would influence the industry, and what we think about it.
4. Governments:
Governments’ roles are very important in this topic (well, every stakeholder is for sure). We wrote “news reports” about what the governments have done in response to the placement fees issues, which are highly connected to NGOs’ movements.
5. NGOs:
Non-governmental organizations from home and abroad have made great efforts to help improve migrant workers’ rights, including advocating for zero placement fee.
As social media has become a great platform for people to share and exchange ideas, we can see the power of social media making changes to migrant workers’ lives. Thus, we transform the information into Instagram posts, hoping that we can make it easier to read.
Members
The four people in this group have constantly gained knowledge, understandings, and awareness about migrant workers throughout the course, along with the sense of need to take actions to help the “new comers” in Taiwan.
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廖柏全 Paul:
Freshman, International College of Innovation An indispensable factor of the group: he can amaze anyone with his caring and sharp logic in finding problem, as well as solutions. 璩妘安 Cya: Freshman, International College of Innovation A great leader with high responsible spirit: she is such a creator with ideas that she came up with during team work. 張芫禎 Chang: Freshman, Department of Education A courage fighter of the group: she has incredible observation that can open a new way of thinking. Pham Thu Phuong Dory: Freshman, Department of Diplomacy The glue of the group: as a Vietnamese, she pays a lot attention to the migration problem in her country, and her different way of thinking can be a very interesting way to see migration. |
Our members (starting from the left)
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Group 6: We know, we care, we act!
Also, we would like to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to Direct Message us on the Instagram account @icimg_6. We look forward to exchanging ideas with you!
Also, we would like to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to Direct Message us on the Instagram account @icimg_6. We look forward to exchanging ideas with you!
Broker system
Before we head into hearing from different voices, let’s have a better understanding of what is going on now with the broker system, where placement fee comes from.
How does the Broker System Work ?
Since there is no government-to-government direct hiring mechanism in Taiwan, if foreign workers want to come to work, they have to go to the brokers to get a job.
The following picture shows how they get a job:
How does the Broker System Work ?
Since there is no government-to-government direct hiring mechanism in Taiwan, if foreign workers want to come to work, they have to go to the brokers to get a job.
The following picture shows how they get a job:
The placement fee for migrant workers differs by region, however, the situation of overcharging is universal, which is the motivation of different stakeholders taking actions to work on implementing the zero placement fee policy.
Here we take Vietnam as an example: the following table tells the official regulated fee and the real payments the workers afford. (Unit: USD)
Here we take Vietnam as an example: the following table tells the official regulated fee and the real payments the workers afford. (Unit: USD)
*There are recruitment quotas owned by the employers in Taiwan, which restrict the demand, causing an overwhelming supply of labor. As a result, Taiwanese brokers pay Taiwanese employers commission fees to get the quota, while brokers in sending countries do so as well. As the brokers get trapped in a vicious circle of competing with each other, the ones who afford the money are the foreign workers.
So Why Zero Placement Fee? What is Wrong with the Status Quo?
Overcharging has become common, and there is no perfect solution to eradicate the malpractice yet. However, small steps need to be taken to make a giant leap. Zero placement fee policy and advocacies of it are the former ones.
In the following post, we would like to briefly demonstrate the disadvantages of overcharging and the advantages of following the new policy. After this, come join the journey of exploring different perspectives of the stakeholders!
https://www.instagram.com/icimg_6/
So Why Zero Placement Fee? What is Wrong with the Status Quo?
Overcharging has become common, and there is no perfect solution to eradicate the malpractice yet. However, small steps need to be taken to make a giant leap. Zero placement fee policy and advocacies of it are the former ones.
In the following post, we would like to briefly demonstrate the disadvantages of overcharging and the advantages of following the new policy. After this, come join the journey of exploring different perspectives of the stakeholders!
https://www.instagram.com/icimg_6/
Migrant Workers
Mei is a new immigrant from Vietnam.
Back in her home, the quality of life was not that good, while there were not many chances for girls like her to change their lives either. She decided to leave and come to Taiwan, a place she saw as a land of opportunity.
She was met with ups and downs on this island, and we made her journey into a comic. Her story was not directly related to placement fees, but we can see how placement fees played a key role in the process.
Hope you enjoy the story!
Back in her home, the quality of life was not that good, while there were not many chances for girls like her to change their lives either. She decided to leave and come to Taiwan, a place she saw as a land of opportunity.
She was met with ups and downs on this island, and we made her journey into a comic. Her story was not directly related to placement fees, but we can see how placement fees played a key role in the process.
Hope you enjoy the story!
Governments
Power that should not be Underestimated -- Governments’ Actions
Policy- or law-making, amendment, and supervision by the government can significantly influence the industry. Regardless of the fact that they sometimes do not work that well, the power and influence of governments’ actions are crucial.
We try to demonstrate what the governments have done in a neutral position, so we decided to act as journalists and write news reports about the progress.
The governments’ have made a lot more effort on these issues, while due to our time constraints, it is a pity that we cannot show all of them. However, as “real” reporters have done more research on this topic, feel free to check them out!
Here are the resources we found useful and interesting:
We try to demonstrate what the governments have done in a neutral position, so we decided to act as journalists and write news reports about the progress.
- Amendment Passed, Leaving Once Three Years Abolished
- Governments and Zero Placement Fee
- How Well Does Direct Hiring Service Center Perform over a Decade
The governments’ have made a lot more effort on these issues, while due to our time constraints, it is a pity that we cannot show all of them. However, as “real” reporters have done more research on this topic, feel free to check them out!
Here are the resources we found useful and interesting:
- YONG-DA, JIAN. “International brands calling for ‘Zero Placement Fee,’ could Taiwanese agents and manufacturers catch up?” The Reporter, October 21, 2020, https://www.twreporter.org/a/migrant-workers-zero-placement-fee.
- ZONG-ZE, Li. “Problematic direct hiring, and hard-to-abolish brokerage system.” Newsweek, October 28, 2020, https://bit.ly/3uharkY.
- “General Information For Direct Hiring Service,” Direct Hiring Service Center, https://dhsc.wda.gov.tw/en/aboutus.html.
- “MOL, agencies discuss migrant worker service fees.” Taipei Times, October 05, 2019, https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/10/05/2003723432
- “Zero placement fee policy/ Indonesia: Postpone till July 15.” Radio Taiwan International, January 15, 2021, https://www.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2089140.
- Fushihara Hirota.“Labor export: looking at the damage from the bottom.” Conversations on Vietnam Development, March 23, 2021, https://cvdvn.net/2021/03/23/xuat-khau-lao-dong-nhin-vao-nhung-hong-hoc-o-goc/.
Employers
Those Who are Going to Pay So Much More Than before -- Employers’ Perspectives on the Zero Placement Fee Policy
In this TV show For Migrants, we have employers who have different migrant workers’ hiring experiences throughout the years. As they are all employers, they are influenced in various ways, and they have different opinions and took different actions in response.
The pictures in the videos are from Newsweek, Taiwan Church Press, Taiwan news, and China times.
The contents in the video are based on Yong-Da, Jian’s article “International brands calling for ‘Zero Placement Fee,’ could Taiwanese agents and manufacturers catch up?” published on The Reporters.
NGOs Actions
Giants for the Migrant Workers -- Non-Governmental Organizations at Home and Abroad
As we mentioned earlier, there are times that governments do not perform that effectively, and this makes the efforts made by the non-governmental organizations especially important. Also, we are certain that the “pioneers” of zero placement fee advocacy are these organizations. Thus, we would like to briefly introduce you to what local and global organizations have done to protect workers’ rights throughout the years.
Action Taken 1:
Local - Migrant Empowerment Network in Taiwan
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQF_G_rnCDLhVEe0xcCEP3e5zMKp9F9CWnswn80/
Action Taken 2:
Global - Responsible Business Alliance
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQGBNnFHMwHZns9mTp7Ic65XPxRAdAgQbWoXCo0/
Action Taken 3:
Local - Additional Information about associations in Taiwan
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQGDeRKnC7AoWc3v-VKGuV5nQLgaLCzH_9oUUk0/
Action Taken 1:
Local - Migrant Empowerment Network in Taiwan
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQF_G_rnCDLhVEe0xcCEP3e5zMKp9F9CWnswn80/
Action Taken 2:
Global - Responsible Business Alliance
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQGBNnFHMwHZns9mTp7Ic65XPxRAdAgQbWoXCo0/
Action Taken 3:
Local - Additional Information about associations in Taiwan
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQGDeRKnC7AoWc3v-VKGuV5nQLgaLCzH_9oUUk0/
