Taiwan is reviewing plans to expand foreign helper access, allowing more families to hire migrant domestic workers, officials said Monday. The Executive Yuan plans to announce details and support measures by the end of the year.
President William Lai proposed that all families with one child under 12 become eligible to hire foreign domestic helpers. Currently, only families with three children under six, or four children with two under six, qualify.
Additionally, officials plan to raise the monthly employment stabilization fee for domestic helpers from NT$5,000 to NT$8,000. This aims to manage demand and ensure sufficient worker availability. For caregivers helping the sick or elderly, the fee remains NT$2,000.
The Cabinet recently approved a policy allowing the hospitality sector and ports to hire intermediate-skilled migrant workers. Employers must raise the salaries of their lowest-paid domestic workers by NT$2,000 per foreign hire, starting next year.
Moreover, the government has consulted with the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and other organizations to refine Lai’s proposal. Officials emphasized that the policy should focus on labor support, not social welfare.
Taiwan employs 850,000 migrant workers, including 220,000 in social welfare roles. About 2,000 serve as domestic helpers, while 218,000 work as caregivers for the sick and elderly. Expanding foreign helper access requires careful planning to support children with rare diseases.
The government is also evaluating whether stay-at-home parents can apply, whether both parents must work full-time, and how grandparents or elderly household members affect eligibility.
Furthermore, officials aim to complete consultations before releasing official announcements. Expanding foreign helper access will provide broader childcare support and address rising domestic care labor demands.
Finally, the policy could reshape Taiwan’s labor market while giving families fair access to qualified domestic helpers.
