Finding clear, dependable information on sick leave benefits for OFWs in Taiwan can feel harder than reading a medical bill in pure Mandarin. And we’re here to help with that.
Below you’ll see—step by step—how many paid days you get, where the 50 % salary comes from, which forms to file, and who to call (yes, there’s a 24-hour Tagalog hotline).
Keeping healthy abroad is not a luxury; it protects your job, your visa, and the family savings you send home.
Quick facts you need to know
| What | Rule |
| Ordinary sickness (not hospitalized) | Up to 30 days a year, paid at 50 % of your daily wage |
| Hospitalized illness | Total sick leave + hospital leave max 1 year within 2 years |
| Labor-Insurance sickness benefit | 50 % of your average insured salary; paid twice a month for 6 months (may extend to 12 months with ≥1 yr coverage) |
| Occupational injury/disease | 70 % of salary via Labor Insurance |
| Domestic in-home caregivers | New Major Injury & Illness Support Service flowchart (Mar 2025) offers extra help if you fall seriously ill |
| 24-hour migrant hotline | Call 1955 for Tagalog, English, or legal help |
| Employer can’t fire you for lawful sick leave | Protected by Labor Standards Act & Employment Service Act |
Sick-leave basics — know your paid days
Under Article 43 of Taiwan’s Labor Standards Act, you can take up to 30 calendar days of sick leave per year and still get half pay if you aren’t hospitalized. If a doctor admits you to hospital, sick + hospital leave together may reach one full year inside any two-year stretch—but pay after the first 30 days depends on company policy.
First-person tip: When I caught the flu last winter, HR asked for my doctor’s certificate and NHI receipts before approving half-pay leave. Photocopy everything and keep digital scans.
Extra cash from Labor Insurance
If you’re insured (most factory, retail, and caregiver jobs are), you can also claim Ordinary Injury or Sickness Benefits: Labor Insurance pays 50 % of your average insured salary, starting on the fourth day you miss work, up to six months.
Have more than one year of continuous coverage? The benefit can stretch to a full 12 months.
How to file
- Ask HR for the Labor-Insurance Sick-Benefit Form (yellow sheet).
- Attach your doctor’s certificate and hospital bills if admitted.
- HR sends the packet to the Bureau of Labor Insurance within 5 days.
- Watch for payment in your bank account every half month.
Special notes for domestic caregivers & household staff
Live-in caregivers aren’t covered by the Labor Standards Act, but you are covered by Labor Insurance once your broker registers you. If a major illness strikes, the Ministry of Labor’s 2025 support flowchart lets employers request a substitute caregiver while you recover, and connects you to medical and legal aid.
Step-by-step: Claiming Paid Sick Leave
- Tell your supervisor by LINE (send date, symptoms, clinic name).
- Visit any NHI clinic the same day. Bring NHI card and ARC.
- Get a doctor’s certificate (醫師診斷證明書). Ask for English if possible.
- Submit certificate to HR within three days.
- Sign HR’s leave form and choose with pay (50 %).
- Track next payslip—half-pay days appear as 別假 (sick leave).
If your illness lasts over three days, start the Labor-Insurance claim process above.
Protecting your rights
- Keep copies of every clinic receipt; they double as tax deductions.
- Call 1955 if an employer refuses leave or pay—interpreters in Tagalog, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, and English answer 24/7.
- Dismissal during lawful sick leave can trigger fines and re-employment orders under Article 72 LSA.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sick days can I take in a year?
Up to 30 calendar days at half pay.
What if I’m hospitalized?
Your ordinary and hospital sick leave together can reach one year within two years. Pay after day 30 depends on company rules.
Do I still get paid if I use Labor Insurance benefits?
Yes. You receive half pay from Labor Insurance. Your employer pays only if company policy offers more. Benefits start on day 4 of leave.
I’m a live-in caregiver—am I covered?
You qualify for Labor-Insurance sickness pay and the 2025 Major Illness Support Service if seriously ill.
Who can help in Tagalog?
Dial 1955 any time. They explain rights, translate, and log complaints.
Final thoughts
Knowing sick leave benefits for OFWs in Taiwan means fewer money worries when flu, dengue, or stress sends you to bed. Use your legal 30 days, claim that 50 % Labor-Insurance cash, and call 1955 if anyone blocks your rights. Healthy workers keep contracts steady, visas safe, and remittances flowing home. Take care, kabayan.