Lawmakers urge government to include blue-collar workers in talent programBy Angelica Oung / Staff reporterHighly skilled blue-collar workers are being excluded from government attempts to attract foreign talent, lawmakers yesterday told a joint meeting of the legislature’s Economics Committee, Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, and Education and Culture Committee. Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei TimesBy limiting the employment period of foreign blue-collar workers, Taiwan risks becoming a “training center,” leaving those workers, who could have otherwise made Taiwan their home, with no choice but to move to another country, Kao said. Unlike blue-collar workers, “foreign special professionals” can stay in Taiwan indefinitely and have a pathway to permanent resident status, the council has said. The draft includes extending short-term tax breaks offered to foreign special professionals to attract more talent, Kung said. I hope that by giving highly skilled foreign talent an extra incentive to try living in Taiwan, they will like [Taiwan] so much that they will stay,” he said.

Source: Taipei Times May 10, 2021 15:56 UTC