Taiwan’s shameful treatment of migrant workers continues to make international headlines, the most recent being a Thomson Reuters Foundation report last week that pregnant workers often face a choice between getting fired and an abortion. Moreover, she had to pay back a New Year hongbao (紅包, red envelope containing money) to her employer. Of course, this is illegal in Taiwan, but migrant workers are often under the thumb of unscrupulous brokers who do not inform them of their rights and usually side with employers. Unfortunately, that would just address the financial and legal issues, as workplace discrimination against pregnant women is not limited to migrant workers. How will society respect pregnant women, or women in general, if the nation’s leaders keep making such comments?
