According to the “4wayvoice”, most foreign migrant workers in Taiwan work in factories or as caregivers in their employer’s homes. According to current regulations, the work and locations of migrant workers are within the scope of work approved by the Ministry of Labor (MOL, 勞動部). However, many migrant workers want to increase their income and will use their off-work hours to find other work or sell online to earn extra money. Many employers will also ask migrant workers to do jobs that are not permitted. These behaviors are considered illegal, and not only will the employer be fined, but the migrant workers may also be ordered to leave the country.
According to the "Employment Service Act" (就業服務法), in principle, migrant workers are not allowed to work in locations other than their permitted workplaces, let alone engage in other jobs. Taipei City Department of Labor (台北市勞動局) Director Chen Hsin-Yu (陳信瑜) pointed out that foreign migrant workers who work while waiting to change their employers or legal migrant workers who take part-time jobs during their own holidays, are violating the law, even if they earn only one day's salary at a place outside their permitted workplaces. Succeeding employment permits will be revoked in accordance with the Employment Service Act, and they will be ordered to leave the country, and they will also be prohibited from entering Taiwan again for several years, in accordance with relevant regulations of the entry and exit laws of the National Immigration Agency (NIA, 移民署).
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Employers cannot assign caregivers to perform unlicensed work. (Picture/taken from the official website of the Direct Hiring Service Center)
If the employer asks a caregiver to do cleaning work, to take care of children, to assist in their business, or to help relatives and friends to perform “unauthorized work” like cleaning etc., regardless of whether the migrant worker is “willing” or just helping during their “leisure time”, all these are illegal and will be fined NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. However, migrant workers who are invited to participate in cultural exchanges, drama filming, serve as volunteers and other activities that are not considered standard work or activities that do not need work permits are not regarded as "work" and are not subject to this restriction.
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