International Labor Mobility to and from Taiwan

verfasst von: Prof. Yumiko Nakahara

Verlag: Springer Singapore

Buchreihe : SpringerBriefs in Economics

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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This book is the first to cover the research of whole aspects of international mobility to and from Taiwan of both skilled and unskilled workers. The migration of skilled workers is a field that has not been well researched, although it is becoming very important for the economic growth of newly developing countries.

The “brain circulation” through which workers who return to their home country bring back technology and the business style of a developed country contributed greatly to Taiwan in the 1980s and1990s. However, according to the author’s research, there is a little expectation that returnees now will contribute as in the past, as the proportion of students leaving Taiwan to study abroad is decreasing. Taiwanese companies therefore are seeking skilled human resources from developed countries in other ways.

The author also found that some Taiwanese have been to China, Singapore or Japan in response to companies and universities’ recruiting by offering high monetary compensation.

This book clarifies those aspects of international skilled labor mobility to and from Taiwan and also analyzes the various issues regarding unskilled foreign laborers in Taiwan. There has been a gradual increase in unskilled foreign laborers, working both in industry and in domestic care in Taiwan. This book elucidates the various controversial issues arising from the increased presence of foreign laborers—for instance, the costs of employing foreign laborers, or problems related to the foreign workforce.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

The society of Taiwan has been formed by various kinds of migrants, and presently, in Taiwan, there are a huge number of various kinds of foreign workers. These are divided into two types. The first is unskilled foreign labor, which now has a large presence, sharing about 5% of all the labor force in Taiwan. The second is foreign-skilled human resources. The “brain circulation” that occurred when workers returning to their home country brought back the technology and business style of a developed country also contributed to Taiwan greatly in the 1980s and 1990s. This phenomenon can no longer be expected to occur, and thus the Taiwanese government and companies are now trying to seek for skilled human resources from developed countries in other ways. Recently, Taiwanese workers are moving to other countries, including China. This book examines the current status of the entire aspect of international mobility to and from Taiwan in the twenty-first century, including related governmental policies.

Yumiko Nakahara

Chapter 2. Literature Review

Abstract

A comprehensive review of the existing literature related to the theme of this book, such as theories of international labor mobility, feminization of international labor mobility, brain drain, brain circulation in the world and in Taiwan, and international labor mobility of Taiwan, found that the current status of the twenty-first century of the whole aspects of international mobility to and from Taiwan, including the related policies of government both skilled and unskilled, is not yet well revealed. Thus, we set the research question to clarify all those aspects: skilled and unskilled international labor mobility to and from Taiwan in the twenty-first century.

Yumiko Nakahara

Chapter 3. Background of the Foreign Worker Introduction

Abstract

In 1989, the Taiwanese government legalized employing foreign labor because of a serious labor shortage. However, Taiwan continues to suffer from a labor shortage, which is greater in highly skilled than in unskilled labor. The unemployment rate for unskilled labor is relatively low, whereas that of university graduates has exceeded the average since 2005. One reason for the labor shortage is a low labor participation rate, which is caused by late participation in and early retirement from the labor market. The unskilled labor shortage, which is now considered to be filled by foreign labor to a certain extent, is caused in part by the popularization of higher education. In terms of the shortage in highly educated workers, three types of gaps have triggered this shortage. The demand for caregivers is also increasing because of the aging society, the rising labor participation rate among female workers, and maintenance of the traditional concept of caring for the aged as well as changes in family values.

Yumiko Nakahara

Chapter 4. Skilled Migration to and from Taiwan

Abstract

Brain circulation contributed greatly to Taiwan in the 1980s and 1990s, because the returnees brought back not only technology but also the business styles and knowledge from the developed countries. In the twenty-first century, however, there is little expectation of brain circulation and Taiwan is experiencing a shortage of highly skilled human resources. To address this issue, the Taiwanese government has been proactively recruiting workers internationally to acquire advanced technologies and fill the shortage of highly skilled human resources. However, Taiwanese workers are leaving Taiwan, because a number of Chinese companies or universities are offering high monetary compensation to recruit Taiwanese workers. This trend is also observed in companies from other countries, such as Japan or Singapore, who also seek Taiwanese workers. The movement of skilled workers to and from Taiwan in the twenty-first century seems to differ slightly from the pre-1980s brain drain and the brain circulation of the 1980s–1990s. The Taiwanese government and companies should make efforts to avoid brain drain.

Yumiko Nakahara

Chapter 5. Foreign Laborers: Status and Problems

Abstract

The introduction of foreign labor to Taiwan is based on the principle of supplementary. Employing foreign laborers usually costs more than employing Taiwanese because the cost of foreign labor includes taxes and fees, housing and meals, and so on. In addition, the application and management process is burdensome. Thus, the incentive to proactively employ foreign laborers might be weak. However, foreign laborers take jobs that mitigate the unskilled labor shortage, reduce the barriers to return investments from China to Taiwan, and keep the optimal operation in Taiwan. Regarding foreign caregivers, the work differs significantly from that of Taiwanese caregivers, thus foreign caregivers might not influence the job opportunities of Taiwanese caregivers. Rather, they are indispensable caregivers, whose services will be increasingly in demand as Taiwan’s population ages. Moreover, foreign caregivers might help to prevent Taiwanese women’s exit from the workforce to care for family or household responsibilities.

Yumiko Nakahara

Chapter 6. Conclusions and Policy Implications

Abstract

Throughout this book, we have specifically analyzed many aspects of skilled and unskilled international labor mobility to and from Taiwan. The Taiwanese government is taking measures to encourage the inflow of skilled overseas human resources, but the possibility of brain drain remains. The decreasing supply and increasing demand for unskilled foreign laborers are a concern because of the economic development of the sending countries for these laborers and the increase in return investments. For various reasons, Taiwan will lose approximately 9 million workers in the next two decades; therefore, Taiwan should adopt policies to acquire both skilled and unskilled overseas human resources from a long-term perspective.

Yumiko Nakahara

Backmatter

Titel: International Labor Mobility to and from Taiwan
verfasst von: Prof. Yumiko Nakahara
Verlag: Springer Singapore
Electronic ISBN: 978-981-10-6047-2
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-6046-5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6047-2

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Chapter 2. Literature Review

Chapter 3. Background of the Foreign Worker Introduction

Chapter 4. Skilled Migration to and from Taiwan

Chapter 5. Foreign Laborers: Status and Problems

Chapter 6. Conclusions and Policy Implications

Backmatter

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