Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network-1955 Reminded Migrant Workers in Taiwan not to Commit Identity Theft

[Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] The 1955 Counseling and Protection Hotline for Foreign Workers reminded that foreign migrant workers in Taiwan must not illegally use someone else’s personal identities, nor lend their identities to others, or purchase or use forged documents. A maximum fine of NT$500,000 and up to five years in prison may be imposed on violators.

The 1955 Counseling and Protection Hotline is a nationwide 24-hour single consultation and complaint window, providing professional services at a 24/7 basis. In addition to Chinese, it also provides consultation services in English, Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese. Since it is a public service, users are not charged for using public telephones, mobile phones, or local calls because it is a free service. Call for advice if one have concerns about agency fees, labor contracts, pay, working hours, or workplace accidents.

The 1955 Counseling and Protection Hotline for Foreign Workers provides service to migrant workers.Photo provided by Workforce Development Agency, Ministry of Labor

The 1955 hotline also serves as a reminder to Taiwanese, new immigrants, and migrant workers in Taiwan to take extreme care to protect their personal information, particularly their ID cards and bank accounts, and to keep their residence permits in a secure location. To prevent misuse, it should be notified as soon as it is lost. Many migrant workers were unaware that they were involved in illegal situations, according to the complaints that were received in 1955. This typically occurs because the victim's personal information was used as a fraud method, therefore the 1955 hotline want to specifically urge them not to lend the information to anybody, otherwise, in addition to facing criminal investigation, it may also affect the right to work in Taiwan.