TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Labor on Tuesday said it may allow 80,000 undocumented foreign migrant workers to stay in Taiwan for legal work.

General Chamber of Commerce Chair Paul Hsu (許舒博) led a meeting on Tuesday with Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and other Cabinet officials during which 63 motions were presented, 18 of which were discussed, per CNA. The topics covered included opening up the service sector to migrant workers and reintegrating unaccounted migrant workers into legal employment. 

After the meeting, Hsu explained that business representatives were most concerned about labor shortages. Cho instructed the labor ministry to propose a comprehensive plan after Lunar New Year. 

Hsu said the meeting discussed reintegrating approximately 80,000 absconded foreign workers. Rather than immediately deporting them, the proposal called for enabling them to apply for legal employment. 

Government agencies will deliberate whether this will require legal amendments. In addition, Hsu said there was a proposal to extend the work eligibility period for migrant workers who have been in Taiwan longer than 10 years and beyond the current 12-14-year limit.

Hus said these proposals could enable Taiwan to retain talent and prevent it from becoming a “training ground for other countries.” Hsu added the government is looking to attract overseas Taiwanese and foreign students to stay in Taiwan, establish roots, and become citizens.

When asked by the media whether there are restrictions on the source countries for foreign workers in the service sector, Hsu said workers will be recruited from Taiwan's existing source countries. 

The top five countries from which Taiwan sources its migrant workers are Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and India.