Taiwan opens 1.2 million domestic helper jobs for migrants

MANILA, Philippines — Taiwan has announced new guidelines allowing households to hire migrant domestic helpers, with as many as 1.2 million households expected to require nanny and household service workers under the new policy.

According to the Taiwan Ministry of Labor, families with at least one child under 12 years old will now be eligible to hire foreign domestic workers, in a move aimed at easing childcare responsibilities and supporting working families.

The development is seen as a significant opportunity for overseas Filipino workers, particularly those affected by repatriation efforts from the Middle East. Thousands more OFWs are expected to be repatriated by the end of April.

Under the policy, the minimum monthly salary for domestic helpers is set at NT$20,000 (about P40,000), with no placement fee required under Philippine regulations. Applicants are required to undergo specialized training and basic Mandarin language instruction to meet Taiwan’s standards.

Migration expert Emmanuel Geslani said the Philippines remains well-positioned to supply workers for the demand, citing the country’s large pool of experienced domestic helpers.

“The Philippines has a large supply of experienced domestic helpers, and Filipino workers have an advantage due to their experience and English-speaking skills, which make them competitive in the international labor market,” he said.

Geslani said the Philippines will be competing for the 1.2 million jobs with ASEAN neighbors Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, but OFWs have the inherent advantage of English-speaking skills. — Rudy Santos