The National Immigration Agency (NIA) hosted a celebration for Mother's Day today (May 8). To express great gratitude for immigration officers who are mothers and frontliners of the NIA, Interior Minister Hsu Kuo-Yung (徐國勇)particularly invited immigration officers' families to act as secret guests. Also, there were 6 adorable second-generation children of new residents and two mascots of the Tzu Chi Foundation performing the "handwashing dance" during the ceremony for the material donation, warming up the event.
Hsu Kuo-Yung: much gratitude for mothers and Tzu Chi
Interior Minister Hsu Kuo-Yung stated that Mother's Day is full of love and warmth. He felt extraordinarily touched when seeing immigration officers hug their families. He added, " sometimes, sending a thank you card or a warm hug can both make mothers happy. " Immigration Officers' overloaded works bring them lots of mental pressure during this virus crisis. Hence, families' support becomes the biggest strength for them to conquer all.
Since the Covid-19 spread out, the Ministry of the Interior has worked with various departments, including the Border Affairs Corps, the NIA, the National Police Agency, the Department of Household Registration, the Department of Civil Affairs. The Department of Civil Affairs has the most female employees who don't get off work until 2-3 a.m. Taiwan's outstanding handling of the coronavirus outbreak nowadays should be attributed to the CECC's and the government departments' effort and citizens' cooperation, said Minister Hsu.
Minister Hsu also expressed his gratitude for the Tzu Chi Foundation that has donated a great number of materials, including protective equipment for the Border Affairs Corps, since the virus outbreak started.
An immigration officer who is also a mother: Thanks for my family that has always been considerate
Immigration Officer Zhuang Jiayan (莊佳燕) of the Border Affairs Corps expressed that she felt very touched today. She said, "this virus outbreak came rapidly and continues to spread. Standing on the frontline is not easy for me because I have two kids. I've worried about infecting my family, so the first thing as soon as I go home is to wash my hands and disinfect all over the place of my house." She added that her children reminded her to conduct disease control measures in the workplace and also cheered up for me today. She expressed her gratitude for her family's thoughtfulness.
She was most impressed by the encounter with a national who had long lived in Japan. The national managed to give something to a friend and to depart through the e-Gate on the same day, but he was told that he needed to conduct 14-day home quarantine before departure. However, he insisted on leaving through the e-Gate. Immigration Officer Zhuang Jiayan immediately told the personnel of the border and finally stopped the national from leaving.
Minister Hsu emphasized that he particularly appreciated the contributions, including donating materials, surgical gloves, surgical masks, alcohol-based sanitizers, and medical isolation gowns, that Tzu Chi has made.
Tzu Chi: We give Taiwan our greatest blessing
Vice-chairman of Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Liu Mingda (劉銘達) stated that the foundation has donated various materials to assist all frontliners of protecting Taiwan. It hoped to fulfill its social responsibility, not only providing materials but conveying much love and support to Taiwan.
Minister Hsu also called on more than 40,000 missing migrant workers, many of whom are mothers, to turn themselves in. According to the "Expanded Overstayers Voluntary Departure Program" issued by the NIA, from April 1 to June 30, to overstayers who turn themselves in during the designated period of this program, penalty relieves including no detention, no entry ban and a minimum fine of NTD 2,000 are entitled. The purpose of this program is to encourage overstayers to turn themselves in so the Agency can help them return home safely. For detailed information, please contact the NIA at 0800-024-881 or call the Ministry of Labor at 1955.
