It’s hard to ignore the ferocity with which they started their campaign. They posted messages all over the web. Somehow, they managed to get covered in local newspapers like the Taipei Times and I’ve been told that there was mention on local-language TV news reports. It was a little disappointing to me that they got tired of it so easily. In fact, they got tired so quickly that I couldn’t help wondering if the real reason was that foreign scholars at Academia Sinicia appear to be exempt from the physical examination.
I would rather know if I have a dreaded disease. I will risk deportation. I think medicals are a good idea. The only objection I had was when my medical file got passed around the school office before I got to see it.
There’s no “risk”, you will be deported if found to have one of the infectious diseases they look for. Most foreigners I knew in Taipei didn’t have health insurance other than NHI, which won’t cover you after you get deported. And it’s not like they’re looking for skin cancer or colon cancer or lupus–it’s just the communicable infectious diseases.
I really don’t know if the DAFTT had anything to do with this, but I ran across this article on the website for the Taipei Times. The third paragraph is of interest. Has anyone been able to confirm this new ruling?
CLA highlights changes to rules for foreign laborers
STAFF WRITER
Monday, Aug 30, 2004,Page 2
The Council of the Labor Affairs (CLA) has launched a campaign to raise awareness of recent changes to regulations for foreign workers. In a public statement, the CLA said it will begin broadcasts and pamphlet distribution on Sept. 1 to publicize changes to the Employment Services Law (就業服務法), which regulates foreign labor. One change the CLA will highlight is the system of direct employment of foreign workers that was introduced last month.
“There is a great discrepancy among the quality of employment agents that import foreign workers, which leads to harmful competition and service fee overcharges. Therefore, related regulations in the Employment Services Law have been amended to penalize such employment agencies – and to establish cooperation with foreign countries to set up the direct employment system,” stated the CLA.
Another recent change is the elimination of the requirement that foreign teachers get a mandatory physical checkup. After strong opposition to the requirement, the CLA scrapped it, and amend the related article in the Employment Services Law. The law now leaves it up to the school where a foreign teacher works to decide whether a physical checkup is required.
The CLA has made pamphlets which clarify legal regulations for the employment of foreign workers. They are printed in Thai, English, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Mongolian. Pamphlets can be picked up starting Sept. 1 at the Taipei trade offices of foreign workers’ countries of origin, employment agencies, police stations and government offices such as the Bureau of Immigration.
If it is true, I say it’s about time! If it’s not, it should be!
[quote]MaPoSquid wrote:
don’t ALL foreign workers have to undergo the health checks, not just teachers? I guess that’s why she’s DAFT(T). GreenGrin.gif
Unless things have changed, not all foreign workers have to get health checks. I didn’t when my ARC was through the MOI, and it was for 3 years. [/quote]
Whether you have to get a health check or not depends on whether the you’re job is classified as “blue collar” or “white collar” - Blue collar workers (which includes teachers) have to get them. White collar workers don’t.
[quote]BERKELEY, Calif. - FBI (news - web sites) investigators trailed a 1960s student protest leader for more than a decade despite having no evidence he broke any federal laws, a newspaper reported Sunday.
Hundreds of pages of FBI files, obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, showed that investigators collected personal information about Mario Savio, including documents on his marriage and divorce, without a court order. The FBI also obtained copies of Savio’s tax returns in violation of federal rules.