There are plenty of career opportunities available for female workers in Taiwan. These include jobs in manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, education, and other industries. In fact, there are many Filipino women who are living and working in this country!
Many of these women are of child-bearing age; some are married and starting families with their husbands. To support them, the Ministry of Labor (MOL) has established guidelines that aim to protect the rights of female foreign workers and their children.
Rights of Female Workers and Their Children at Every Stage
Here is an overview of the guidelines published by MOL regarding the rights of female foreign workers and their children:
Pre-Natal Stage
The MOL provides guidelines and support for all female workers, including those who are not planning to get pregnant, as well as those who are planning to have children.
Foreign workers who are not planning to get pregnant but are sexually active may access contraceptive health education materials at one-stop service centers, Integrated Service Centers for Migrant Women and Children throughout Taiwan, and through the Foreign National Labor Rights Portal. Condoms may be purchased at convenience stores, pharmacies, and condom vending machines.
Likewise, female workers who are planning to get pregnant can access education materials about pre-natal health, childbirth, and postpartum care through the same places and online sources.
Pregnancy Stage
Based on existing laws, pregnant workers entitled to several rights, including: the right to work while pregnant; the right to take a leave; and the right to apply for job transfer.
Right to Work While Pregnant
Foreign workers who become pregnant have the right to continue working. Employers cannot fire them for being pregnant; furthermore, employers must provide a good working environment to ensure the safety and good health of pregnant workers.
Right to Take a Leave
Pregnant workers have the right to prenatal exam leave, especially since they need to undergo checkups. This is a fully paid leave that may be used for seven days throughout their pregnancy.
Before and after childbirth, women are entitled to maternity leave. This is also a fully paid leave that applies to an eight-week period.
Correspondingly, husbands of female workers may apply for a seven-day paternity leave, which comes with full pay. They can use these seven days to accompany their wives during checkups, or when their wives are about to give birth/have given birth.
Right to Apply for Transfer
If a pregnant worker would like to change employers, she has the right to apply for a transfer. Upon her request, the employer may agree to terminate her contract and apply to the MOL for a transfer.
After Pregnancy
As mentioned earlier, female workers have the right to take maternity leave, which includes postpartum or the period after giving birth. She is also entitled to use her labor insurance maternity benefits.
Child Care
In addition to maternity leave, female workers can take a family care leave to focus on her newborn baby. This leave is without pay, and may be taken for up to seven days within a year.
Furthermore, employees with at least six months of service may qualify for a parental leave to care for children below three years old. This leave is without pay, and may range from 30 days to up to two years, depending on the situation.
Thanks to the country’s existing laws and guidelines, foreign female workers and their children can rest assured that their health and safety are being upheld and protected.
For more details about these rights, you can visit the official website of the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) of the MOL. This information is available in Chinese, English, Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese, for better understanding and communication between foreign workers, employers, and labor brokers.
Notably, many Filipino women come to Taiwan to work as nurses. Check out this guide on how to apply as a nurse in this country!