Article 5 Measures to Safeguard Various Rights that Taiwan’s agricultural industry is contending with the issue of an aging population in which the average age of farmers has now reached 68 years old. Farm families, to ensure their survival, are now relying on undocumented migrant workers, who settle in rural and mountainous regions, establish families, and form mutually dependent relationships with elderly farmers. However, these workers also face risks due to losing medical insurance and having to hide during searches, as well as losing out on childcare and social development.75 59. Recommendations: The NHRC points out that according to General Re co m m e n d at i o n N o. 3 0 , w h i c h co n ce r n s n o n - c i t i ze n s w h o l a c k documentation, efforts must be made to reduce statelessness, especially for children. However, the children of migrant workers may become stateless due to reasons such as their parents being inability or unwillingness to apply for legal residence for their children at the immigration office or due to undocumented migrant workers choosing to give birth privately. This results in the government being unable to properly assess these children’s status. The government needs to propose concrete solutions when considering the right to family reunion. 60. Concerning the residency of migrant workers with dependents, Article 23 of the Immigration Act stipulates that the spouses of approved residents or permanent residents from abroad as well as their dependents under the age of 18 can apply for residency if they enter the country with a valid 60-day visa. However, spouses of blue-collar migrant workers engaged in occupations mentioned in Article 46, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs 8 to 10 of the Employment Service Act cannot apply for residency. Current legislation generally prohibits the family members of blue-collar migrant workers from 75 The Control Yuan investigation report approved on December 7, 2022 (111 財調 0044) 43

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