Taiwan to Prevent Forced Labor; Civil Groups Call for Focus on Underground Labor Market

(Central News Agency, reporter Wu Xinyun, Taipei, 4th) The United States plans to impose 10% tariffs on Taiwan, the EU, and other economies under Section 301 of the Trade Act. In response, the Taiwanese government is moving to prevent forced labor. Employer groups today called on the government not to use this as an opportunity to suppress Taiwanese employers, but to address the underground labor market formed by runaway migrant workers.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on June 2 (Eastern Time) released a report on the "Import Prohibition of Goods Made with Forced Labor" under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, recommending additional tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on 60 global economies. Taiwan was listed as one of 14 countries with a recommended tariff rate of 10%.

In response, the Ministry of Labor stated today that it will establish an inter-ministerial review process with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, using the Trade Act as the legal basis to restrict the import of goods made with forced labor. The Taiwan Employers' Association and the Taiwan Solidarity Union also held a press conference today, calling for a clear definition of forced labor by the international community. They argued that the U.S. proposal, which has not yet completed its procedures, should not be treated as a final ruling, nor should it be used as a reason to crack down on Taiwanese industries, household employers, and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Chang Heng-yen, chairperson of the Taiwan Employers' Association, stated that the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 29 provides a clear definition of forced labor. Many migrant workers legally working in Taiwan provide their labor after voluntarily signing work contracts. Fulfilling the terms of a work contract is not equivalent to forced labor. Conflating the two not only distorts international standards but also unfairly stigmatizes the families and businesses that legally employ hundreds of thousands of migrant workers.

Chang emphasized that the U.S. concern is whether countries have established legal and management mechanisms to prohibit the import of forced labor products, not to determine that Taiwanese businesses, fishermen, or household employers are generally involved in forced labor. The government should not mistakenly transform an international supply chain governance issue into a reason to attack legal Taiwanese employers.

Chang further pointed out that if the government truly cares about human trafficking and forced labor, it should address the underground labor market formed by nearly 100,000 runaway migrant workers in Taiwan. These workers operate outside the formal management system, and their working conditions, wages, and personal safety are difficult to effectively protect. Compared to the legal employment system, this unregulated underground labor market is more deserving of government resources for improvement and management.

Chou Ni-an, chairperson of the Taiwan Solidarity Union, stated that when responding to the USTR investigation, Taiwan should prioritize thinking institutionally about how to avoid becoming a transit point for forced labor products. He also called for a clear distinction from China's unfair trade model to protect Taiwan's economic interests and international reputation.

The Taiwan Employers' Association and the Taiwan Solidarity Union jointly called for a clear distinction between "fulfilling a work contract" and "forced labor." They urged prioritizing the resolution of issues related to runaway migrant workers, human trafficking, and the underground labor market, while simultaneously establishing an import management system that meets international standards to prevent forced labor products from entering the Taiwanese market. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150604