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'Inaccurate News, Negotiations Ongoing': Taiwan Refutes Report Claiming It May Hire 1 Lakh Indian Workers

Swarajya Staff

Nov 18, 2023, 01:53 PM | Updated 01:53 PM IST


Taiwan Labour Minister Hsu Ming-chun
Taiwan Labour Minister Hsu Ming-chun

Following several media reports suggesting Taiwan may recruit 100,000 Indian workers, Taiwanese Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun clarified that the news is 'inaccurate'.

However, she acknowledged ongoing discussions between the two nations, though a final decision has not been reached.

According to a Bloomberg report last week, India is forging closer economic ties with Taiwan with a plan to send tens of thousands of workers to the island as early as next month.

Additionally, the report cited sources familiar with the developing stating that these 100,000 Indian individuals would be employed in various sectors, including factories, farms and hospitals.

“The two sides are expected to sign an employment mobility agreement by as early as December," the report said.

However, Hsu stated that the reports suggesting the entry of about 100,000 Indian migrant workers are inaccurate. She says she suspects intentional manipulation of figures to spread misinformation and create unwarranted panic.

Hsu added that negotiations regarding the number of migrant workers to be accepted are still ongoing.

Last week, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, echoed a similar sentiment, stating, “The India-Taiwan jobs pact is now in the final stages of negotiation".

Taiwan's increasing elderly population necessitates additional labor, whereas India's economic growth is insufficient to provide jobs for its burgeoning young workforce.

By 2025, Taiwan is expected to evolve into a "super aged" society, with the elderly constituting over twenty percent of its population.

However, this job agreement could escalate geopolitical strains with China, which disapproves of any official exchange with Taiwan, a self-ruled island Beijing considers part of its territory.


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