Indonesian workers allege forced labor, salary cuts

ABUSE: The Indonesian technicians were allegedly promised about NT$50,000 per month, but their pay was slashed to NT$100 per hour upon their arrival

• By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA

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The Ministry of Labor yesterday pledged to launch an investigation into allegations of forced labor and wage theft made by Indonesian technicians working on renewable energy projects in Taiwan.

The ministry made the remarks hours after Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Yueh-chin (林月琴), together with the Taiwan Association for Human Rights and Taiwan Climate Action Network, leveled the accusations at the Taiwan branch of the Singapore-based Sheffield Green Co at a news conference in Taipei.

Lin accused Sheffield Green, a labor agency specializing in providing workers for renewable energy projects, of recruiting Indonesian technicians with promises of high pay to work in Taiwan, but changed their contracts and slashed their pay upon their arrival.

The Ministry of Labor logo is pictured in an undated photograph.

Photo: Taipei Times

The advocacy groups had received multiple complaints from Indonesian workers about Sheffield Green’s labor practices, she said.

The company had promised a monthly salary of about NT$50,000 for skilled workers, but paid them no more than NT$100 per hour, she said.

Two of the workers told the news conference that their employers refused to pay the promised amount, saying the Labor Standards Act (勞動基準法) does not apply to foreign recruits working under an expedited short-term permit.

To facilitate foreign nationals working temporarily in Taiwan, the government allows entry visas or permits to be treated as work permits for those staying no more than 30 days.

For those working for up to 90 days, education and work experience requirements are relaxed to simplify administrative procedures.

Several building contractors for offshore wind farms and the state-run CPC Corp, Taiwan were among the entities that allegedly engaged in the deception, Lin said.

Article 51 of the Employment Service Act (業服務法) stipulates that foreign-based companies could supply Taiwanese companies with foreign workers possessing specialized skills on expedited work visas, Lin said.

This provision is being exploited as a loophole to abuse foreign workers, she said.

The ministry said employers have the legal responsibility to comply with their contractual obligations to foreign workers, regardless of the type of work permits.

Officials can confirm that complaints have been lodged against Sheffield Green and others for alleged failure to give workers time to recover from work-related injuries and not paying for their health and labor insurance, in addition to wage disputes, it said.

The ministry, in collaboration with the Kaohsiung and Pingtung County governments, will launch a probe into the labor practices of the companies involved, it said, adding that those found guilty of breaching labor laws would be held accountable.