“New immigrant basic law passed, new agency to be set up” 17 July 2024

Taipei, July 17 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan has passed a new law focusing on new immigrants that will require the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) to set up a new administrative agency to help them deal with issues they face in adapting to life in Taiwan...

The act defines the term "new immigrants" as foreign nationals, stateless persons, and individuals from China, Hong Kong, or Macao who are permitted to reside, reside as dependents, reside long-term, or reside permanently in Taiwan, or whose spouses are Taiwan nationals with household registration in Taiwan.

The act's protections extend to the children of new immigrants, and foreign nationals who reside in Taiwan through different immigration schemes, such as professional and investment immigration, are also covered under the definition. It does not cover overseas migrant workers in Taiwan...

The newly passed act says that given the difficulties new immigrants can face in adapting to the language, culture, and daily life in Taiwan, the government should help them with counseling, medical and maternity health care, employment rights protection, and education and culture empowerment...

Nadia Liu (劉千萍), chairperson of the Taiwan Immigration Youth Alliance (TIYA)...said many new or second-generation immigrants "don't particularly feel very encouraged or excited" after the passing of the act. "The substantial content (of the act) lacks foresight, as most of it reuses existing immigration integration measures,"...

[Unofficial excerpt translation ofRadio Taiwan International article from Chinese to English provided by the Resource Centre: Chen Xuehui (陳雪慧) of the TransAsia Sisters Association Taiwan (TASAT) criticizes the new law for discriminating against minority groups. The law includes white-collar foreign professionals as "new immigrants" but excludes blue-collar migrant workers. Chen argues that the law fails to address key issues, such as access to social assistance and housing for permanent residents, and undermines efforts to promote migrant rights and anti-discrimination.]