Taiwan’s labor and health ministry has temporarily banned the transfer of migrant workers there to other companies to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Pinay “Jenny’s” contract as a factory worker with an electronic company in Miaoli county ended. Her documents were ready to move to another electronic company on June 12, but they did not go through.
This comes after Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor and Health issued a notice on June 6 temporarily banning inter-company transfers of migrant workers due to the pandemic.
“Dapat lilipat na po talaga ako kasi okay na po lahat, naka-sign na ako ng contract. Minessage po ako ng coordinator… May isa pang mas nakakagulat kasi sinabi n’ya sa akin na mali daw pagkakasabi n’ya na 11. Ang dapat daw uwi ko ay 10,” said Jenny.
Even the Manila Economic and Cultural Office was surprised by the announcement. However, the office said this was only temporary.
“Hindi naman ito absolute. Ang gusto lang gawin ng ating Taiwan government sa pamamagitan ng ministry of labor ay wala munang movements at hindi muna gagalaw dahil ito ay makakadagdag sa pagkalat ng corona virus,” said Cesar Chavez, Jr., director for labor affairs of MECO.
Transfer of migrant workers to another company in Taiwan temporarily banned
“Tigil muna ang paggalaw at kung naapektuhan ang kanilang ARC or alien residence certificate, mag-eexpire during alert level 3, ay ito naman ay automatic na mae-extend ng 30 days. At kung magtatagal pa itong alert level ay inaasahan nating tuloy tuloy din ang extension.”
More than 300 Filipinos tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Miaoli county local government.
The Ministry of Labor visited factory dormitories in Miaoli and other parts of Taiwan crowded with migrant workers. Most of the infected live together in the same room.
“Kung ilan lang ang maisaksak doon na manggagawa, yun lang ang dapat ilagay sa dormitory na yun. At pagka siksikan na ay kailangan i-report sa atin ng workers para makausap ang employers at brokers at pwede rin natin ireklamo yan sa Ministry of Labor,” said Chavez.
Due to the sudden surge of COVID-19 cases among migrant workers, the contact traces have been placed in various quarantine facilities in Taiwan.
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