Article 5 Measures to Safeguard Various Rights
for example, a huge fire in the Sican factory dormitory in Taoyuan claimed the
lives of six Vietnamese workers and injured five others, and a fire in the Chin-
Poon factory caused the death of two Thai migrant workers. Furthermore,
the investigation report sent by the Control Yuan to NHRC showed that when
fishing vessels return to port, the lack of fisher-friendly facilities often forces
foreign fishers to wash up on deck or in the open near the harbor. Although
the Fisheries Agency has incorporated rest areas for foreign fishers into the
planning of fishing ports, these spaces were not designed to support the
religious beliefs, customs, and cultural characteristics of fishers of different
nationalities.126
102. Recommendations: In Taiwan, 90% of the accommodations for foreign
workers are provided by employers, who thus have a responsibility to care
for the lives of the migrant workers they hire. The government should urge
employers to implement the regulations stipulated in the Foreign Workers
Living Care Service Plan to ensure a safe living environment for migrant
workers.
O. Right to organize and join labor unions
103. As mentioned in §201 of the national report, all migrant workers working
within the territory of Taiwan, irrespective of nationality, race, or ethnicity,
have the right to organize or join labor unions in accordance with the Labor
Union Act . The MOL stated that it has asked local governments to give
assistance to labor unions formed by foreign workers under their jurisdiction
by providing relevant laws and regulations in different language versions
and offering resources for translation to foreign workers’ trade unions.127
126
127
Control Yuan investigation report approved on February 8, 2023 (112 財調 0006)
MOL written reply dated January 13, 2023.
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