Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act Dec. 30 to further protect property and security. (MOFA)
 

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act Dec. 30, highlighting government commitment to combatting fraud by increasing penalties, accelerating termination of fraudulent transactions and enhancing victim protection.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the amendments lower the threshold for high-value fraud to NT$1 million (US$31,963.5). Fraud involving NT$1 million or more now carries prison terms of 3 to 10 years, while fraud involving more than NT$100 million carries a minimum sentence of seven years, the ministry said. If any scam syndicate recruits teenagers, people over 80-years-old or foreign nationals, syndicate members will face a 50 percent increase in their sentence, it added.

The MOI went on to say that financial institutions and virtual currency operators will strengthen their mutual inquiries and mechanisms, including joint fraud prevention notifications and establishment of cross-institutional technical analysis platforms to speed up blockage of illegal cash flows, the MOI said. Under the legislation, judicial and police authorities become authorized to cooperate with relevant institutions to intercept suspected victims and reduce potential property losses, it added.

To further protect victims, offenders who turn themselves in must first pay the full amounts agreed by both sides within six months of surrender, and after that the court may consider reducing or waiving their sentences, the MOI said. Amendments include that sentences may take into account extravagant spending and if this occurs before victims are fully compensated or settlement amounts have been paid.

The ministry will discuss supporting measures with relevant authorities as soon as possible to implement the amendments, the MOI said. It will also collaborate with the private sector to strengthen technical and legal fraud prevention measures to protect property and security, the ministry added. (YCH-E)

Participants are all smiles at an event organized by the Ministry of Education Feb. 18 in Taipei City to encourage foreign students to remain in Taiwan after completing degrees at local colleges and universities. (Courtesy of MOE)
 

The Ministry of Education recently staged two seminars as part of government efforts to retain foreign students after they finish their studies in Taiwan.

According to the MOE, the events, held Feb. 18 in Taipei City and Feb. 25 in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, involved representatives from 56 tertiary institutions and 31 entities in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, long-term care, machinery and metal industries.

Participants exchanged views on issues such as curriculum planning, practical training, career placement and employment market outlook. Through discussions and information sharing, the events informed local colleges and universities on evolving workforce needs and gave international students insight into the domestic job market and strengths of local sectors.

The MOE also invited officials from the Ministries of Economic Affairs, the Interior and Labor to bring attendees up to speed on employment conditions and work permit and residency regulations for foreign and overseas Chinese students.

The MOE launched a four-year program in 2024 to offer career counseling and employment support for international students in Taiwan, with a total budget of NT$1.08 billion (US$32.93 million).

The program utilizes a four-pronged approach: designating dedicated employment counseling staff for foreign students at every college and university in the country; working with local businesses on course design and enhancing foreign students’ Mandarin proficiency; establishing standard operating procedures for career planning; and implementing national employment tracking. (SFC-E)

Ministry of Education officials join students and business representatives at a job fair Feb. 21 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of MOE)
 

The Ministry of Education hosted job fairs for students from Taiwan’s overseas community and foreign students in Taipei City and the southern city of Tainan, respectively, highlighting government effort to attract international talent.

Hosted Feb. 14 in Tainan and Feb. 21 in Taipei, this year’s events attracted students and alumni from over 80 universities and colleges, the MOE said, adding that attendance has exceeded 1,000 students annually since the fair’s launch in 2023.

According to the ministry, 75 enterprises including Hiwin Technologies Corp. and Eslite Spectrum Corp. were represented at the events. Other participating businesses spanned advertisement, biotechnology, education, information technology, manufacturing, medical care and retail sectors, among others. The MOE added that more than 20 enterprises in the travel and accommodation industry were invited to join the fairs.

Governmental agencies also set up consultation booths in the fairs, the MOE said, citing the Ministry of Labor’s Workforce Development Agency, the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Department of Investment Promotion and the National Development Council’s International Talent Taiwan Office as specific examples. They provided information regarding employment and immigration laws in Taiwan, as well as resources for learning Mandarin, the ministry added.

The fairs are just one segment of the MOE’s international personnel exchange and cooperation outreach, as evidenced by a 2023 initiative to attract and retain global talent, along with the Study in Taiwan Database, which launched in 2018 and regularly publishes online newsletters in English to provide the latest job information to interested candidates, the ministry added. (YCH-E)

“Flying,” a collection of winning works from the 2024 Taiwan Literature Award for Migrants, is released by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature and Monomyth Co. Ltd. Jan. 5 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of Ministry of Culture)
 

An anthology of works that won the 2024 Taiwan Literature Award for Migrants was released in a ceremony Jan. 5 in Taipei City as part of the government’s efforts to promote the rights and inclusion of migrants.

A cooperation between the National Museum of Taiwan Literature in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City and Monomyth Co. Ltd. in Taipei, the ninth edition of the annual collection contains 17 pieces written in Filipino, Indonesian, Myanmar, Thai and Vietnamese.

NMTL Director Chen Ying-fang began by recognizing the societal contributions of migrant workers, immigrants and their children. Literary works in their native languages diversify Taiwan’s cultural scene, she said, adding that the annual award and the publication of its associated collection help enhance public awareness of their presence and understanding of their experiences.

Monomyth Director Tang Sheng-jung said he began to engage with immigrant issues in 1994 as a journalist, adding that migrants provide a perspective on Taiwan that is unknown to the locals.

During the event, first prize winner Chin Nyap Fong, a naturalized citizen from Indonesia, read from her work “Titik Hitam Seorang Rika” (Rika’s Black Spot). She received a cash prize of NT$150,000 (US$4,564) as part of the award.

The Vietnamese piece “Sự Sống (Vitality)” by Trần Minh Hợp detailed the life and predicament of undocumented immigrants, while “Ang Pinakamalungkot na Trahedya ng Aking Buhay (The Saddest Tragedy of my Life),” written in Filipino by Marvin Joaquin Alamag of the Philippines, is a dialogue between the author and his own soul about his sexual orientation.

The award, organized since 2014 by the NTML, was expanded this year to include migrant workers, immigrants and their children from around the world, with more than 200 submissions received. (SFC-E)

MOI Minister Liu Shyh-fang (back, center) joins other participants in giving the thumbs up at the 2024 Migrants Day celebration Dec. 8 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of MOI)
 

The 2024 Migrants Day was organized Dec. 8 in Taipei City by the Ministry of the Interior’s National Immigration Agency and Taipei City Government in recognition of the critical role foreign residents play in Taiwan’s economy and society.

Over 300 international residents were invited to join a festive costume parade infused with elements of their respective cultures, offering locals deeper insight into the customs and traditions of Taiwan’s new immigrant community, the MOI said, adding that the government designated Dec. 18 Migrants Day in 2011 in line with the international U.N. holiday celebrating migrants’ contributions held on the same date.

Speaking at the event, MOI Minister Liu Shyh-fang said that the number of foreign nationals who have immigrated to Taiwan through marriage now exceeds 600,000, in addition to the several hundred thousand foreign residents who work, study or do business in Taiwan.

President Lai Ching-te’s announcement of the New Immigrants Basic Act in August marked a milestone in domestic immigration policy with the law’s enhanced protection of multiculturalism and immigrants’ fundamental rights and interests, Liu said. A raft of measures have been implemented to help naturalized citizens adapt to their new lives, including a dream building project for parents and children and radio programs providing dedicated support, she added.

The minister concluded by vowing to continue working with other ministries and civil organizations to formulate policies and services meeting the needs of new residents. (POC-E)

The Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (second left) details findings of the latest new resident survey released July 19 by the Ministry of the Interior in Taipei City. (Courtesy of MOI)
 

Just over 92 percent of new residents in Taiwan report that they have a happy life, with job satisfaction hitting 94.8 percent, according to the results of a survey released July 19 by the Ministry of the Interior.

The MOI reports that 45.6 percent of Taiwan’s new residents are between 45 and 64 years old. A total of 60.5 percent of all new residents work in the service industry, with an overall labor force participation rate reaching 75 percent, the MOI said, adding that the average monthly household income among the group has increased by 18.2 percent, up NT$9,576 (US$292) from five years ago.

The MOI further reports that 75.9 percent of new residents have lived in Taiwan for more than 10 years, and the number of new residents who have taken part in literacy courses and other similar care services has increased from 54.2 percent in 2018 to 62.9 percent in the latest survey. Nearly one-third have also participated in social and public welfare activities over the past year, demonstrating their successful integration into Taiwan’s society, the ministry said.

During a news conference announcing the results of the survey, which is conducted every five years, MOI Minister Liu Shyh-fang said that the National Health Insurance program enrollment rate, household income and the access to care services are all improving for new residents, indicating that the public and private support measures are paying dividends. The government will continue to formulate comprehensive policies in line with the bill approved by the Executive Yuan last month to promote the rights of new residents, she added.

In addition, the MOI’s National Immigration Agency held a multicultural workshop on the same day that encouraged new residents’ children to explore opportunities to combine their cultures and social innovation. (YCH-E)