Ministry of Labor: Foreign spouses can now apply for the “Assured Immediate Employment Program”

The Ministry of Labor now allows resident foreign spouses of Taiwanese to apply in their “Assured Immediate Employment Program”

In response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the job market, the Ministry of Labor announced on June 18 that it will amend the "Assured Immediate Employment Program (AIEP)" to ease up on the application qualifications and increase the maximum number of hours for allowances. If the job vacancy involves Covid-19 risks, additional allowances will be provided. The public can register online at Assured Immediate Employment Program, or go to the Workforce Development Agency of the Department of Labor website and download the application form and send by mail or fax.

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Taiwanese 15 years old and above and foreign spouses can apply. Photo/Retrieved from The China Times

Director Lin Jen-Chao (林仁昭) of the North Branch of the Workforce Development Agency of the Ministry of Labor (勞動部勞動力發展署北分署) stated that the "Assured Immediate Employment Program" will extend the implementation period until June 30, 2022. The revised plan relaxes the application qualifications and requires labor insurance record within 1 year before the registration date. The requirements for insuring the insurance record will be relaxed but not to limit the eligibility for insurance, as long as the foreign spouse is 15 years of age or older and married to a Taiwanese with a household registration, and is legally permitted to reside and work in Taiwan,  may apply again.

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 “Assured Immediate Employment Program” now allows foreign spouses of Taiwanese to apply. Photo/Provided by the Ministry of Labor

In addition, the maximum number of hours for claiming allowances has also been increased from the original maximum of 80 hours per month, up to 6 months, totaling 480 hours, to a maximum of 960 hours. If the work involves Covid-19 related risks, each person will be given a maximum of NT$2,000 per month as pandemic prevention allowance. People who have participated in this plan and have already received a work allowance for 6 months can re-register to participate again.