Ministry of Labor: One-Stop Orientation for Migrant Domestic Workers Helps Reduce Absconding Rate

TAIPEI, May 21 (CNA) – Domestic migrant workers are required to attend a one-stop entry orientation service upon arriving in Taiwan. The Ministry of Labor (MOL) stated today that the issue of workers absconding has significantly improved since the service was launched, with the absconding rate dropping from 3.85% before its implementation to 1.81%. The Ministry also pledged to strengthen prevention measures at the source. In response to recent online rumors that the MOL's one-stop orientation service is ineffective in addressing the issue of absconding migrant workers, the Ministry issued a statement today with three points of clarification. The MOL explained that it launched the one-stop orientation service for domestic migrant workers in 2023. The program provides compliance-related education to newly-hired workers and those who have not attended a course in over five years. It informs workers that if they are absent from work or abscond for more than three days, their employment permit will be revoked, and they will be permanently banned from working in Taiwan. Furthermore, the orientation service informs workers that if they engage in illegal work while absconded, they could face a fine of up to NT$150,000. The MOL pointed out that the problem of absconding has markedly improved since the one-stop orientation was introduced. Before the service began, the absconding rate for foreign caregivers was 3.85% in 2022. After the service was launched, the rate for foreign caregivers dropped to 1.81% in 2025. The MOL emphasized that it will continue to strengthen prevention of absconding workers at the source and will work with the Ministry of the Interior through inter-departmental collaboration to address the issue. (Editor: Guan Zhong-wei) 1150521