TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Academics said Taiwan must better protect migrant workers after the US suspended bike imports from Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. over forced labor claims, CNA reported on Sunday.
US Customs and Border Protection issued a Withhold Release Order against Giant on Sept. 24, blocking Taiwan-made bicycles and parts. Academics see the case as evidence that Taiwan must improve labor rights for migrants to meet global standards.
Chen Li-yi (陳立儀), assistant professor at Chinese Culture University, said Taiwan must prove it protects the human rights of foreign workers. He said the US likely targeted Giant to push Taiwan’s export industries toward better compliance with international labor norms.
Lin Chun-yu (林君諭), assistant professor at Soochow University, said conditions for migrant workers “have improved” but gaps remain, especially for welfare and fishing workers who face privacy and wage issues.
Giant's case marks the first time a Taiwanese manufacturer has faced such an order, raising concern over closer US scrutiny of labor rights in supply chains. Global Visions Monthly reported on Oct. 9 that Giant could lose up to NT$3 billion in revenue from the ban.
Experts said the order signals a shift in trade policy, where labor and human rights standards are becoming new barriers alongside carbon rules. They urged Taiwanese exporters to align with international practices to prevent future disruptions, per Global Visions Monthly.
Giant has denied the forced labor allegations, saying the US CBP never inspected its factory in Taichung. The company added that wages are paid on time with bilingual payslips and legally calculated overtime pay, per CNA.
