An official from the National Development Council brings participants up to speed on the amendments to Taiwan’s Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals Jan. 13 in Taipei City. (NDC)
 

The National Development Council and Ministries of Labor and the Interior staged a briefing Jan. 13 in Taipei City to outline amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals.

According to the NDC, around 190 individuals took part in the event, including guests from foreign embassies, representative offices and business associations in Taiwan, as well as representatives from the local academic and business sectors.

NDC Deputy Minister Jan Fang-guan said that in addition to undergoing a major demographic shift, Taiwan requires a tremendous number of professionals to meet the growing needs of the domestic artificial intelligence and net-zero emission sectors.

Targeting high-caliber foreign professionals and international students who have obtained a degree in Taiwan, the amendments seek to ease regulations governing employment and residency while providing more social security protections, he added.

Under the amendments, which took effect Jan. 1, those with an associate degree or above can seek employment during an extended stay; those who graduated from one of the world’s top 1,500 universities are no longer required to have two years of work experience to seek employment; those with a degree from the world’s top 200 universities can apply for an open work permit; and qualified foreign professionals can apply for their spouses to also work in Taiwan.

At the same time, top-tier talent, such as individuals whose annual incomes exceed NT$6 million (US$189,537), can apply for permanent residency after living in Taiwan for one year. Foreign professionals without permanent residency can now enroll in Taiwan’s labor pension system, while those with permanent residency are eligible for unemployment benefits.

The event also featured a session on the International Talent Taiwan Office, which offers one-stop services for those interested in working in Taiwan. The NDC said it will continue to work with related agencies to promote bilingual banking services, rental arrangements and other services to attract professionals from around the world. (SFC-E)

The 2026 Taipei International Book Exhibition will feature Thailand as the guest of honor during its Feb. 3-8 run. (Courtesy of TIBE)
 

Thailand will be the guest of honor at the 2026 Taipei International Book Exhibition set for Feb. 3-8 at the Taipei World Trade Center in the city, the Ministry of Culture said Jan. 7.

According to the MOC, this will mark the third time that Thailand has been the TIBE’s themed country, following 2009 and 2014.

The Thai pavilion is themed “CreaTHAIvity” and comprises a literary section displaying works from 37 publishing companies; an illustration section showcasing creations that reflect Thailand’s identity, historical memories and daily life; and an exhibition featuring 50 publications to spotlight how local culture and social changes shaped the Southeast Asian country’s literary landscape.

In addition, more than 10 Thai authors and content creators in diverse genres are scheduled to take part in the event to interact with readers and share their experiences, the MOC said. It added that many other activities on unique Thai culture will also be held.

The ministry said other highlights of this year’s exhibition include the Czech Republic’s pavilion that will display 60 books for children and juveniles published over the past decade, while Belgium will showcase its prowess in comics. France, Germany, India, Italy and Hong Kong also have dedicated pavilions at the event, the MOC added.

First held in 1987 by Taipei Book Fair Foundation under the MOC’s auspices, TIBE is the leading event of its kind in Asia and one of the world’s largest alongside the Frankfurt Book Fair, Bologna Children’s Book Fair and BookExpo America. (SFC-E)

Taiwan’s construction, slaughtering and offshore fishing sectors are readying for a workforce boost in light of the expanded direct recruitment program with Indonesia. (CNA)
 

The Ministry of Labor said Jan. 6 that it has reached an agreement with the government of Indonesia to include new sectors in Taiwan’s direct hiring program.
 
According to the MOL, Taiwan first introduced project-based recruitment for Indonesian manufacturing workers in 2019 and expanded the program to institutional caregivers and agriculture in 2024.
 
Effective immediately, eligible employers in the local construction, slaughtering and offshore fishing industries can bypass private brokers to recruit workers directly from Indonesia through the MOL’s Direct Hiring Service Center, the ministry said.
 
After employers submit their needs, the center will help recruit three to five times the number of required candidates. The employers can then select workers through document reviews or video interviews from Taiwan, or by traveling overseas to meet with prospective employees in person, the MOL added.
 
The move will help speed up the recruitment process, reduce costs for employers and workers, and provide more flexibility for both, the MOL said, adding that it is also in line with the global practices of fair recruitment to enhance selection transparency and information parity while avoiding exploitation.
 
Established in 2007 to build a friendly recruitment environment and reduce reliance on intermediaries, the DHSC provides legal consultations and case management to process applications; arrange for migrant workers to switch jobs; and offer bilingual services in English, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese. (SFC-E)

More than 200 participants from home and abroad take part in the “Powering Sustainability: Youth X Green Collar X Action” forum held Jan. 3-4 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of Ministry of Education)
 

A youth forum was held Jan. 3-4 in Taipei City by the Ministry of Education to explore ways for youth around the world to advocate for net-zero carbon emissions.

According to the MOE, the “Powering Sustainability: Youth X Green Collar X Action” forum involved around 200 youths and representatives from 21 countries to discuss green career planning and cross-disciplinary cooperation to achieve a global impact.

In-person participation by senior ministers from Taiwan’s allies, including Salma Agüero Caballero, youth minister of Paraguay, and Chantelle Loague, senior official from Belize’s ministry of tourism, youth, sports and diaspora relations, evidenced international commitment to achieving net-zero targets.

In opening remarks, MOE Deputy Minister Liu Kuo-wei said the young generation is a driving force which can initiate change and shape the future as the world tackles challenges such as climate change, industry transition and social inequality.

The government has long supported youth participation in public affairs and global issues, Liu said, adding that the forum provides a platform for Taiwan’s youth to engage with global counterparts, cultivate cross-disciplinary skills and effect a difference in advocating for sustainable development and a green economy.

The deputy minister also brought participants up to speed on the MOE’s Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative, which encourages local youth to broaden international horizons by fostering global connections and exchanges. The initiative empowers them to drive innovation across various fields and inspire creative solutions, he added.

The two-day event featured themed discussions, roundtable exchanges and shared experience sessions, as well as immersive activities for a deeper understanding of sustainability issues, the MOE said. (SFC-E)

NSTC Minister Wu Cheng-wen (front, third right) stands Dec. 31, in a media event announcing participation in the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show. (Courtesy of NSTC)
 

National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen lauded domestic startups for their competitiveness and international reputation, rendering them sought after for transnational cooperation.

In a Dec. 31 media release by the NSTC Taiwan Tech Arena in the runup to the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show, Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas, it noted that 57 startups and 83 supply chain partners will showcase tech prowess in the industry show.

The TTA pavilion, themed “Daily Taiwan,” will present artificial intelligence technology geared toward food, daily life, medicine and transportation. Wu noted that the 57 startups enjoy substantive support from both domestic and international commerce.

In addition, the CES 2026 Innovation Awards have been unveiled, with products from four TTA teams standing out among a total of 3,600 submissions. Four award-winning companies: DeCloak Intelligences, Epic Tech Taiwan, Memorence AI and HUA TEC International, applied AI variously to cybersecurity, sustainability and energy transition, enterprise tech and digital health.

DeCloak Intelligences’ DeCloakBrain is a privacy-protection, decision-making AI platform conforming to international regulations, which assists businesses to install AI in medical and public venues. HUA TEC International’s Nano CAST™ is a cancer detection platform integrating semiconductor biochips with AI automation.

The NSTC committed to further strengthening international outreach for startups to expedite collaboration and market expansion. (POC-E)