Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network-The Minister of OWWA, Philippines Visits Filipino Migrant Workers in I-Mei’s Nankan Facility

[Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] I-Mei Foods Co.'s Nankan facility employs a large number of foreign migrant workers. In 2017, it pioneered the "overseas direct recruitment" model, and went to the Philippines to recruit locally, so that the hired employees were free from being exploited by agents and huge commissions. The Minister of the Overseas Workers Welfare Department of the Philippines (OWWA), Arnell Ignacio led a delegation to Taiwan and visited the I-Mei Foods Co.'s Nankan facility, caring for the Filipino employees. He also agree with I-Mei's "overseas direct employment", and hope that this measure will allow more Filipino workers to have the opportunity to come to Taiwan to work through this channel.

The Minister of OWWA, Arnell Ignacio Visits Filipino Migrant Workers in I-Mei’s Nankan Facility.Photo provided by I-Mei Foods Co.

I-Mei first used the "overseas direct recruiting" method in 2017, traveling to Davao City and Manila to hire employees. A BBC story complimented the technique for preventing employed workers from paying substantial sums of money to recruitment agencies.

Last week, Ignacio led a group to Taiwan. On his final day in Taiwan, he visited the I-Mei Foods Co.'s Nankan facility, attended to the Filipino workers there, and learned about their living and working circumstances. Cesar Chavez Jr., the director of the labor center for the Filipino Representative Office in Taiwan, accompanied them. The crew gave Ignacio, who is quite poplar in the Philippines, a hearty welcome. Ignacio subsequently admitted that he was "proud" of the Filipino workers who put in a lot of effort outside; the crowd was quite animated, and the workers hurried to take a group photo with the minister.

Arana Dahlia Lorenzo, a senior employee in charge of quality control who has served in I-Mei Foods Co. for 13 years, told Ignacio and others that I-Mei treats Filipino workers friendly in all aspects. Ignacio said that the human agency problem has been in existence for a long time. And praised that I-Mei Foods Co. recruit employees through overseas direct recruitment greatly improves labor rights.