[ Human Trafficking, Country-by-Country ]

TAIWAN (Tier 1) – Extracted in part from the U.S. State Dept 2023 TIP Report

Taiwan authorities fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.  Authorities continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Taiwan remained on Tier 1.  These efforts included investigating and prosecuting more traffickers, including crimes related to cyber scam operations, and increasing international law enforcement cooperation on trafficking crimes.  Authorities also identified more victims and identified and repatriated victims of forced labor in cyber scam operations.  Authorities enacted a new action plan to address labor rights violations, including trafficking, in the fishing industry; revised regulations on inspection of employment brokers; and amended regulations on foreign flag fishing vessels to prevent trafficking.  Although Taiwan met the minimum standards, authorities did not fully implement victim identification procedures, complicating some victims’ access to justice and protective care.  Authorities’ insufficient staffing and inspection protocols continued to impede efforts to identify, investigate, and prosecute forced labor on fishing vessels in Taiwan’s highly vulnerable Distant Water Fleet (DWF).  Authorities’ lack of specific labor laws ensuring the rights of migrant domestic caregivers continued to leave thousands vulnerable to exploitation in forced labor.

Prioritized Recommendations

Increase inspections and, where appropriate, prosecute the senior crew and owners of Taiwan-owned and -flagged as well as Taiwan-owned, foreign-flagged fishing vessels suspected of forced labor in the DWF, including vessels stopping in special foreign docking zones.  

Increase efforts to prosecute and convict traffickers under the anti-trafficking law, and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should include significant prison terms.  

Expand the mandate of foreign port-based fisheries agency (FA) personnel to include victim-centered screening for forced labor indicators among foreign fishing crewmembers; increase FA and labor inspector coverage to all authorized overseas ports; train all maritime inspection authorities on victim identification, referral, and law enforcement notification procedures; and expand the availability of interpretation services for such inspections, especially for Bahasa and Tagalog languages.  

Extend trafficking victim identification authority to key stakeholder agencies, beyond law enforcement officials.  

Formally incorporate civil society input – including fisher representatives, experts, and practitioners – into the labor broker evaluation process.  

Amend relevant policies and legislative loopholes to eliminate the imposition of all recruitment, registration, and service fees and deposits on workers, and coordinate with sending countries to monitor and harmonize contract provisions and facilitate direct hiring.  

Continue to strengthen efforts to screen for trafficking among vulnerable populations, including foreign students recruited to for-profit universities; individuals returned to Taiwan in connection with alleged overseas criminal activity; and foreign workers falling out of visa status within Taiwan after fleeing abusive working conditions and/or surrendering to immigration authorities, and refer them to protective services.  

Enact legislation to address gaps in basic labor protections for household caregivers and domestic workers, including by instituting a full ban on the retention of migrant workers’ identity and travel documentation.  

Increase resources for and implement anti-trafficking training for police, prosecutors, and judges.