New Foreign Domestic Helper Policy Approves 184 Applications, Over 90% for Special Needs Families

Central News Agency, Taipei, May 26. The government has relaxed the application criteria for foreign domestic helpers, allowing families with children under 12 to apply. According to statistics, from the policy's implementation on April 13 to May 17, 184 cases have been approved. Among these, 85% of families have more than two children, and 10% have special parental status. The government recently relaxed the rules, requiring a monthly employment stabilization fee of NT$5,000 for families with children under 12. For special needs families, such as those with children with rare diseases or three or more children under 12, the fee is reduced to NT$2,000, and applications are prioritized. To apply, families must first conduct domestic recruitment; if no suitable local worker is found, they receive a recruitment certificate and can apply for a recruitment permit. According to Ministry of Labor statistics, from April 13 to May 17, 5,756 domestic recruitment cases were handled, with 1,003 recruitment permit applications and 184 approvals. The Ministry of Labor stated that 157 of the approved cases (85.3%) involved families with more than two children, and 19 cases (10.3%) involved special parental status, such as single parents or parents with disabilities. The ministry will continue to monitor future trends.