TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Starting Wednesday (Aug. 28), foreign and overseas Taiwanese students can apply for work in the hospitality industry upon graduation.
On Tuesday (Aug. 27), the Ministry of Labor (MOL) said international and overseas Taiwanese can work in mid-level hotel positions, including housekeeping, cleaning, room booking, reception, and restaurant waiting service. In addition, by the end of the year, an individual work permit system for foreign and overseas Taiwanese will be established.
Following the post-pandemic economic recovery, many industries are facing labor shortages. According to the ministry, the Tourism Administration determined that there is a talent shortage in domestic hospitality roles.
MOL said that any licensed tourist hotel operators holding a business license issued by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications can apply to hire graduated foreign and overseas Taiwanese students for mid-level positions. This also applies to hospitality operators holding a hotel registration certificate or a B&B registration certificate issued by local governments. However, these hires must not exceed 30% of the hotel employees covered in labor insurance.
MOL said that international and overseas Taiwanese students with an associate degree or higher, who have completed at least 80 hours of internship training courses are eligible for mid-level jobs in the hospitality industry. It is also specified that the starting salary must be at least NT$30,000 (US$900) per month, and NT$33,000 if contracts are renewed.
In addition, MOL said that, by the end of the year, consultations will be held to amend the law and establish an individual work permit system for foreign and overseas Taiwanese students.
There are also labor shortages for other sectors, such as hospital care assistants, logistics and warehousing personnel, truck drivers and assistants, highway and city bus drivers, and safety management personnel. The National Development Council, MOL, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and MOTC will evaluate the use of international and overseas Taiwanese student labor to address these shortages.
