Taiwan 'India Migrant Worker Deal Depends On Industry Demand'

Taiwan's government said Tuesday a plan to bring Indian migrant workers to the democratic island to help fill a labour shortage will only proceed if there is industry demand and India meets its requirements. 

Taiwan is seeking to diversify its source of migrant workers beyond Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia and the Philippines, as it grapples with a falling birthrate and growing ageing



population.

There are more than 870,000 foreign workers in Taiwan, with over 60 percent employed in manufacturing, construction, agriculture and caregiving sectors, official data shows. 

Taipei and New Delhi signed a memorandum of understanding in February 2024 for the recruitment of Indian workers in Taiwan. Taiwanese Labour Minister Hung Sun-han said earlier this month that 1,000 Indian workers could arrive in Taiwan this year as part of a pilot programme.