Taiwan Plans to Allow Foreign Graduates to Work as Drivers: Proposal Pending Approval with Higher Language Requirement

(FWA 2026/1/8)The Ministry of Labor (MOL) in Taiwan plans to allow foreign graduates to work as drivers, having previously previewed a draft amendment in March last year. However, the plan was suspended due to differing public opinions and is currently under review. The Highway Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) stated that, acting on recommendations from relevant ministries, the proposed Mandarin language proficiency requirement for foreign students serving as passenger or cargo drivers has been raised to TOCFL Band B Level 3 (B1). This proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Labor. If approved, the salary conditions are expected to remain as previously planned: NT$50,000 for passenger transport jobs and NT$43,000 for cargo transport jobs.

The Highway Bureau explained that the Ministry of Labor had announced in late March last year a proposal that graduating foreign students would be able to work in technical roles such as truck drivers, cargo assistants, and highway or city bus drivers. Due to differing external opinions, the MOL asked the MOTC to re-evaluate and plan complementary measures.

Addressing concerns about insufficient language skills among foreign students, the Highway Bureau consulted with the Ministry of Education and the National Immigration Agency. Consequently, the Mandarin proficiency test requirement in the proposal was raised from TOCFL Basic Level (A2) to TOCFL Intermediate Level (B1). The revised opinions and policy explanation were sent to the Ministry of Labor in mid-November last year for further regulatory amendments.

Once the regulations are officially amended, automobile transport operators hiring graduating Foreign and Overseas Chinese students would need to ensure the applicants meet the language requirements. Additionally, they must possess valid driving qualifications, professional licenses, or complete training courses. Under the future plan, the monthly salary for passenger transport work must not be lower than NT$50,000, and for cargo transport work, it must not be lower than NT$43,000.

According to statistics from the Highway Bureau last December, there is a shortage of 1,367 drivers in the city bus industry and 661 drivers in the highway bus industry, totaling a shortage of 2,028 drivers.

Under the previous draft announced by the Ministry of Labor, graduating Foreign and Overseas Chinese students serving as cargo or passenger drivers would be required to obtain a Taiwan driver’s license for the specific vehicle category. Cargo assistants would need to obtain a forklift technician certificate, and passenger transport safety management personnel would need to obtain an SMS safety management certificate. For assistants and safety management personnel, if they do not hold a license or certificate, they must be graduates of relevant departments or meet relevant training requirements.

Plano ng Taiwan na Payagan ang mga Foreign Graduates na Magtrabaho bilang Driver: Panukala Nakabinbin pa, Language Requirement Itinaas

Ang Ministry of Labor (MOL) ay may plano ng Taiwan na payagan ang mga foreign graduates na magtrabaho bilang driver, matapos mag-anunsyo noong Marso ng nakaraang taon ng isang draft amendment. Gayunpaman, ang plano ay pansamantalang itinigil dahil sa iba’t ibang opinyon ng publiko at kasalukuyang pinag-aaralan. Ipinahayag ng Highway Bureau ng Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) na, batay sa mga rekomendasyon, ang iminumungkahing kasanayan sa wikang Mandarin para sa mga dayuhang estudyante na magtatrabaho bilang driver ay itinaas sa TOCFL Band B Level 3 (B1). Ang panukalang ito ay naisumite na sa Ministry of Labor. Kung maaprubahan, ang sahod ay inaasahang mananatili sa dating plano: NT$50,000 para sa passenger transport at NT$43,000 para sa cargo transport.

Ipinaliwanag ng Highway Bureau na ang Ministry of Labor ay nag-anunsyo noong huling bahagi ng Marso ng nakaraang taon ng isang panukala na ang mga nagtatapos na foreign students ay maaaring magtrabaho sa mga teknikal na tungkulin tulad ng truck driver, cargo assistant, at bus driver. Dahil sa mga alalahanin, hiniling ng MOL sa MOTC na muling suriin at magplano ng mga kaukulang hakbang.

Dahil sa pag-aalala na maaaring hindi sapat ang kakayahan sa wika ng mga estudyante, itinaas ng Highway Bureau ang requirement sa Mandarin proficiency test sa panukala mula TOCFL Basic Level (A2) patungong TOCFL Intermediate Level (B1) matapos sumangguni sa Ministry of Education at National Immigration Agency. Ang mga binagong opinyon ay ipinadala sa Ministry of Labor noong kalagitnaan ng Nobyembre ng nakaraang taon.

Sa sandaling maamyendahan na ang mga regulasyon, ang mga kumpanya ng transportasyon na kukuha ng mga nagtatapos na Foreign at Overseas Chinese students ay kailangang tiyakin na pasado sila sa language requirements. Bukod dito, dapat silang may valid na lisensya sa pagmamaneho, propesyonal na lisensya, o nakatapos ng training courses. Sa ilalim ng planong ito, ang buwanang sahod para sa trabaho sa pampasaherong sasakyan ay hindi dapat bababa sa NT$50,000, at para sa cargo transport, hindi bababa sa NT$43,000.

Ayon sa estadistika ng Highway Bureau noong Disyembre, kulang ng 1,367 na driver sa city bus industry at 661 na driver sa highway bus industry, na may kabuuang kakulangan na 2,028 na driver.

Batay sa naunang draft ng Ministry of Labor, ang mga nagtatapos na Foreign at Overseas Chinese students na magiging driver ay kakailanganing kumuha ng Taiwan driver’s license. Ang mga cargo assistant ay kakailanganing may forklift technician certificate, at ang mga passenger safety management personnel ay kakailanganing may SMS safety management certificate.