any reason 2013 was chosen as a reference year? from 2014 to 2021 the numbers of migrant workers who have left their permitted jobs were somehow stable at around 50,000. It increased about 25,000 in 2022 from 55k to 80k, with about 40k workers who illegally left their jobs in the year.
Just that it was ten years ago. It seems to me that fears over ‘out of contact’ migrant workers are overblown. They seem to track the number of migrant workers pretty closely. As the number of migrant workers increases, the number who leave their legal jobs increases.
Obviously, Covid had a big effect because the supply of migrant workers was low but demand was very high.
The only thing that has really changed is that the media and the public are paying more attention to the number of migrant workers who have escaped their indentured servitude for a highly uncertain life underground.
It’s notable that the subject of the powerful documentary
“And Miles to Go Before I Sleep” (九槍) was an undocumented migrant worker when he was killed by the police.
Many believe (I am one of them) that migrant workers are the most important cause of the inexplicable stagnation of Taiwanese wages over the past 2 decades.
Maybe there government should not have different sets of laws apply to migrant workers then?
I don’t know whether I agree with that position, but that’s mostly because (along with being the reason for my “Like”) I’ve never given that topic (that is, possible differences between Taiwanese wages and migrant wages) any serious thought. (So I guess my “Like” doubles as a confession of ignorance.)
if you look the recent 10 years, it is not the case. while the migrant workers increased from 2005 to 2009, the missing workers decreased. from 2009 to 2021, though the number of migrant workers decreased, missing workers increased. and it jumped in 2022.
you mean the same minimum wage of 47k?
Does anyone want to get together for a coordinated curry night? Let’s book out every Indian restaurant in the country to show our support for the Indian community …
They are normally booked out anyway
This seems hard to coordinate, would require 1000s of people in total as there are a lot of Indian restaurants now in Taiwan.
I’d be down to do something like this though, seems like a good idea and I hope it can get some good press coverage
All you will get is lot of calories
Here’s the thing. Taiwanese are not. Sorry to break it to ya pal but they are not out here protesting that immigration should be done the correct way so the migrant workers can be payed a fair wage!
There is a range of views on immigration among Taiwanese people. Some support immigration, some are strongly opposed, and most don’t know but are inclined against. It also depends a lot on who the immigrants are.
My sense was that the organizers/protestors at the rally were anti-immigration but they do not want to be called racists or agents/stooges in PRC cognitive warfare.
I will give three counter examples:
- Missionaries/senior professionals naturalizing w/o renouncing (very positive)
- Special professionals such as Gold Card holders (positive)
- Reclassifying migrant workers as intermediate skilled manpower (no idea what is going on)
No.3 will be interesting. There has been absolutely no public opposition and has been accomplished by regulation rather than changes to the law. Taiwanese may be quite upset when they find out what is going on after say 10,000 former migrant workers become permanent residents and/or citizens. That could easily happen by 2032 at current rates and could well come sooner.
This is the wild thing about the 2020s. The political incoherence of the messages grab elements from the left and the right. This protest which brought a mishmash of concern for labour (traditional left) and “protecting women” from unnamed Brown men (dog whistling right) is a classic example of this incoherence.
I don’t know about you but as a foreign resident this stuff frightens me.
Guy
A great film and extremely powerful. So I wonder are these protesters also protesting racist policing?
I guess the answer is “no.” What kind of politics are they expressing here really other than dog whistling anti Brown nativism.
Guy
I’m up for this. 
Guy
I agree. I was concerned about what exactly this was all about. It was a bit unsettling both because of the cognitive warfare aspect and also because it could also be early expression of the kind of populist mash-up that you are describing. It could also be both.
I agree. There could be legitimate grievances expressed online by Taiwanese which then become amplified through cognitive warfare / AI. They are not mutually exclusive actions. From Beijing’s point of view, the point here is to stir the pot, sow dissent, and (ideally they hope) bring down the DPP so they can then get “their guy” in charge.
Guy
No they did not. My sense is that they would like more policing of immigrants. But did not want to say so publically. It seemed to me that an unusual number of people were wearing masks.
There was also someone from the criminal investigation bureau front and center through the entire event. I asked a veteran activist about whether this was normal but he was not sure. He thought it could have been because of the location near the presidential office and because the election is coming soon.
I had mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, having a senior detective out there seemed intimidating especially because the activists were so young. On the other hand, maybe there was something going on that the security services were concerned about.
It was an odd experience.
In case this is not clear, your posts on these developments are much appreciated, even as their implications are quite unsettling.
Guy
The Reporter on Sunday’s rally and its background. Well worth reading.
That is a fantastic well researched article. The punchline at the end is amazing. Thank you for sharing it here.
Guy