On December 7, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held its "2022 Forum on Migrant Workers' Human Rights in Taiwan." Since Chairperson Chen Chu was on an official visit in Europe, she pre-recorded a video message for the opening remarks, in which she discussed how migrant workers' rights are often a good indicator of a country's commitment to human rights. Given that there are currently more than 710,000 foreign workers in Taiwan, Chen Chu sought to draw attention and raise the public's awareness of the need to enforce migrant workers' human rights.
As of the end of September this year, more than 490,000 migrant workers were employed in the manufacturing sector while another 210,000 were employed as household caregivers. Not only has the NHRC been conducting active visits, studies, and seminars relating to migrant workers since it was first founded, but the organization has highlighted migrant workers' human rights as a primary concern for 2022. A combined total of more than 300 people participated in the Migrant Workers' Forum; both online and in person.
Chairperson Chen Chu explained that the NHRC has commissioned separate research projects concerning migrant workers employed as industrial workers and those employed as household caregivers and that the NHRC also conducts systematic visits and research on "How Migrant Workers Raise Their Children in a Foreign Country," in hopes to identify factors that are critical in protecting the rights of migrant workers.
Chairperson Chen Chu emphasized that, out of the UN's nine core international human rights conventions, the issue of labor rights protection is covered extensively in the ICCPR and ICESCR, whereas the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICMW) specifically requires migrant workers to be treated fairly at work. The International Labour Organization (ILO) also requires member States to declare and pursue a national policy designed to promote equality in terms of opportunity and treatment with respect to employment and occupation to eliminate inequality.
In response to the world's increasing attention on the issue of migrant workers' rights in Taiwan, Chairperson Chen Chu said that, given Taiwan's critical role in the global supply chain, it is inevitable for businesses to be asked to observe international human rights standards. From a sustainability and corporate responsibility standpoint, the enforcement of human rights should not be viewed as a burden, but as an investment that strengthens an enterprise's competitiveness in global trade, and is a goal that every business should strive to endeavor.
The forum opened with a keynote speech from Professor Michael Hsiao Hsin-huang, Senior Advisor to the President of Taiwan (ROC), on "My View on the Rights of Migrant Workers in Taiwan and Asia," which was introduced by Wang Jung-chang Vice Chairperson of the NHRC.
The three topics for the day were moderated by Commissioners Kao Yung-cheng, Wang Yu-ling, and Lai Chen-chang, respectively, during which Commissioners Chi Hui-jung and Upay Radiw Kanasaw also took part in the discussion. For the convenience of overseas human rights organizations and representatives from New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States, the NHRC provided participants the option to join the forum in person or via video conference and arranged real-time English interpretation.
Professor Lin Jia-he of the National Chengchi University and Professor Liuhuang Li-chuan of the National Chung Cheng University then presented the findings of the commissioned research projects on migrant workers employed as industrial workers and household caregivers, respectively, and for the forum's final session, Professor Chiu Yu-fan of the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University introduced participants to the discussion of forced labor and corporate responsibilities. Each of the aforementioned topics was thoroughly discussed among the participating academics, industry experts, private organizations, and government agencies.
The NHRC set up a video conference with Dr. Swann Bommier, person-in-charge, of the BLOOM Association in France, to discuss the legislative history, legislative process, and effects of the "French Corporate Duty of Vigilance Law" to learn from other nations' experiences regarding the government's role in the "Supply Chain Responsibilities" and learn about global legislative trends.
Furthermore, representatives of several private organizations such as Huang Tzi-hua, Secretary-General of Domestic Caretaker Union Taoyuan; Lin Yi-ying, Chairman of Plahan Shared Care Labor Cooperative, and Son Yu-liam, Secretary-General of Taiwan Labor Front, were also present to discuss and contribute insight on migrant workers' rights alongside industry experts, academics, and competent authorities.