Taiwan has announced a new policy that will allow migrant workers to take jobs in the hospitality sector starting next year. The plan is designed to address a serious labour shortage in hotels and related services. According to officials, migrant workers who are hired in this sector must earn a minimum monthly salary of NT$32,000.
Chen Yu-hsiu, director-general of the Tourism Administration, said the recruitment program will begin in the first quarter of the year. The migrant workers will be able to work in roles such as housekeeping, cleaning, front desk service, and food service. This move is part of a wider strategy introduced by the government to support businesses that have been struggling to find local workers.
To take part in the program, hotel operators must first raise the salaries of their local employees by NT$2,000. This is meant to ensure that job opportunities for Taiwan citizens are protected while still allowing businesses to bring in needed help. The policy aims to balance labour support with fairness to local workers.
The monthly salary for migrant workers in hospitality will be set higher than Taiwan’s upcoming national minimum wage of NT$29,500, which will take effect next year. Officials also said that migrant workers will need to have basic Mandarin language skills to qualify.
Businesses taking part in the program can only hire migrant workers up to 10% of their total staff, meaning the majority of the workforce must still be local employees. The Tourism Administration expects most of the new workers to come from the Philippines, where many workers already train for hospitality roles abroad.
Hotels licensed by the Tourism Administration and hotels registered with local governments will be eligible for the recruitment program. However, smaller homestays and guesthouses with fewer rooms will not be included.
A 2023 survey found that Taiwan’s hospitality sector has a labour shortage of 6,600 workers, especially in housekeeping and cleaning positions. The government had already offered subsidies to help hotels manage staffing, but the shortage has continued.
Officials also suggested that Taiwan may soon ease work and internship rules for foreign students, which could allow more of them to stay and work in the hospitality industry after graduation.