Say no to service fees! Migrant workers will be able to apply for documents online next year

According to the 4wayvoice, a member of the Legislative Yuan Hong Shen Han (洪申翰) recently questioned the Minister of Labor on the issue of "service fees" (買工費) and asked to improve the flaws in the current system so that migrant workers can apply for various documents online, so as to eradicate the unhealthy practices of unscrupulous agencies charging labors service fees.

In response to this, the Minister of Labor Xu Ming Chun promised to discuss simplifying the document application method and allow migrant workers to apply online by themselves. This is expected to be implemented in the first half of 2022.

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A member of the Legislative Yuan of the DPP exposed unscrupulous agencies who have violated the law. (Photo / Retrieved from Faceboo:林楚茵)

According to the current laws and regulations, agencies can only charge migrant workers who want to switch jobs a monthly "service fees" of NT$1,500 to $1,800. It is illegal to charge additional fees and can be fined 10 to 20 times of the service fees, and the license can be revoked in the most serious case.

However, due to the lack of an online multilingual platform for various types of document applications, the application process is complicated, making it almost impossible for migrant workers and employers to apply on their own. Hence, they often rely on intermediary agencies to handle documents. Some illegal agencies take advantage of the information gap and illegally detain migrants’ documents which troubles many migrant workers and employers.

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Migrant workers feel helpless being charged by agencies for service fees. (Photo / Retrieved from Pixabay)

In addition, the Ministry of Labor has previously encouraged migrant workers and employers to report on agencies who asked them to pay service fees. Upon successful cases, there will be a reward of NT$20,000.

Minister of Labor promised to improve the current application document mechanism. (Photo / Provided by Ministry of Labor)

Minister of Labor promised to improve the current application document mechanism, discussing employers' and migrant workers' online applications and printing, and sending the relevant planning content and schedule to the Legislative Yuan.

As for those who do not have the status of an agency but illegally charge migrant workers service fees, the Ministry of Labor will write an explanation or guidance letter for the local labor authorities to refer to, so that the illegal cases of the agency’s relatives or persons with a certain relationship who charge service fees can be reported.