A Maryknoll missionary has become an important support figure for many migrant workers in Taiwan who face unfair labour conditions. Charles Niece first traveled to Taiwan in 2019 through a Maryknoll volunteer program after graduating from Seton Hall University. He expected to spend one year learning and serving, but his experience grew into a long-term mission focused on defending the rights of migrant workers, especially those from the Philippines.
Niece first worked alongside Father Joyalito Tajonera, also known as Father Joy, who runs a church-based shelter for migrant workers in Taichung. The parish is a lively community where many Filipino workers gather for spiritual support and companionship. While helping in the church and studying Mandarin, Niece also began listening deeply to workers’ stories of exploitation and workplace abuse. He soon realized that many migrants did not know how to report problems or document their complaints.
As the COVID-19 pandemic trapped workers in difficult situations, Niece began assisting them more directly. He helped migrants gather evidence such as pay slips, text messages, and bank documents to clearly show unpaid wages, withheld passports, or unfair deductions. Many workers could not communicate well with labour officials because few government staff spoke Tagalog, so Niece also helped them prepare written complaints in English.
While studying business ethics at Providence University, Niece learned how large global companies use codes of conduct to promise fair treatment of workers in their supply chains. But when he compared these policies to what he saw in Taiwan, he noticed a major gap. Workers in several factories still faced withheld passports, curfews, and recruitment fees. These practices were against the standards of major companies such as Apple, HP, and Intel, even if they did not always break local Taiwanese law.
To test whether corporate policies were truly enforced, Niece encouraged workers to report their concerns directly to the companies that purchased products from the factories. The result was powerful. Two U.S. firms sent auditors to Taiwan, and after the investigation, hundreds of workers received reimbursement of fees and improved living conditions. News of this success spread quickly, and more workers began seeking help from Niece and the Maryknoll community.
Over five years, Niece has helped workers in more than 40 factories prepare complaints, leading to over $6 million returned in illegal fees, the return of more than 2,000 passports, and hundreds of migrants regaining control of their own bank accounts. However, efforts to improve conditions continue to face challenges. Some factories have tried to hide abuses during audits, including coaching workers to give scripted answers or temporarily returning passports only to take them away again afterward.
Still, Niece and Father Joy believe progress is real and ongoing. As migrant workers learn to speak up and advocate for themselves, the movement becomes stronger. “Our role is to guide from behind and help workers build confidence,” Niece said. Father Joy added that even one worker can spark change, pointing to a case where Filipino workers used social media to protest poor dormitory conditions and successfully pushed for renovations.
Both men say the work is not finished, but they no longer feel ignored. Government officials and companies now listen more closely. The mission continues to push for dignity, fairness, and respect for every worker who leaves home seeking a better future.