Taiwan Raises Salary Thresholds for Foreign Skilled Workers Across the Board

(FWA 2026/1/6)With Taiwan’s 2026 minimum wage rising to NT$29,500, the Ministry of Labor (MOL) announced the “Regulations Governing the Qualifications and Employment Permission for Foreign Skilled Workers“on December 31 last year. Simultaneously, new salary regulations were released. The salary threshold for migrant workers converting to Foreign Skilled Workers (formerly Intermediate Skilled Workers) has been raised by NT$2,000 across the board. Furthermore, institutional caretakers converting to this status must now meet technical qualifications; the option to bypass these requirements through higher salary has been removed. New applications will be subject to these new rules.

Salary Increase of NT$2,000 for Categories Exempt from Technical Qualifications

According to the latest regulations released by the Ministry of Labor, the basic salary for technical work in industries such as manufacturing, construction, ocean fishing, slaughtering, agricultural outreach, agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and aquaculture has increased from the current NT$33,000 to NT$35,000. The salary threshold for exemption from technical qualifications has been raised to NT$37,000.

For social welfare technical work, the salary threshold has also been raised by NT$2,000. For example, the threshold for institutional caretakers has increased from NT$29,000 to NT$31,000. However, the “salary amount for exemption from technical qualifications” has been cancelled. This means that in the future, institutional caretakers converting to skilled manpower must meet technical conditions (such as a Caregiver Technician certification or 20 hours of technical training) and language proficiency requirements.

Regarding the new “Diversified Accompaniment Care” service, the Ministry of Labor has also established qualification standards for conversion to skilled manpower. In addition to meeting the length of service requirement (in principle, at least 6 consecutive years) and basic language proficiency or relevant technical training, the salary must reach NT$31,000. Technical qualifications are mandatory and cannot be waived by offering a higher salary.

Technical Requirements Mandatory for Institutional and Diversified Care

For home caretakers(not covered by the Labor Standards Act and minimum wage) converting to home care technical work, the basic salary has been raised to NT$26,000. The salary amount for exemption from technical qualifications has also been raised to NT$28,000.

Taiwan launched the “Long-term Retention of Migrant Workers Program” in 2022. Migrant workers who have worked in Taiwan for more than 6 years, or overseas students who have obtained an associate degree or higher in Taiwan, can be employed by employers to engage in intermediate skilled work if they meet salary and technical requirements. Each permit is valid for up to 3 years and can be extended upon expiration, with no limit on the number of years.

With the new system taking effect this year, in addition to renaming “Intermediate Skilled Workers” to “Foreign Skilled Workers,” regulations have been relaxed to allow manufacturing employers to retain 100% of eligible migrant workers, removing the previous 25% cap.

Tinaasan ang Salary Threshold para sa Foreign Skilled Workers sa Taiwan

Dahil sa pagtaas ng minimum wage sa Taiwan sa NT$29,500 sa 2026, inihayag ng Ministry of Labor (MOL) noong ika-31 ng Disyembre ang “Regulations Governing the Qualifications and Employment Permission for Foreign Skilled Workers.” Kasabay nito, inilabas ang mga bagong patakaran sa sahod. Ang **salary threshold** para sa mga migrant worker na lumilipat bilang Foreign Skilled Workers (dating Intermediate Skilled Workers) ay tinaasan ng NT$2,000 sa lahat ng kategorya. Bukod dito, ang mga institutional caretaker na lumilipat sa status na ito ay kailangang sumunod sa mga teknikal na kwalipikasyon; hindi na maaaring gamitin ang mas mataas na sahod upang laktawan ang mga kinakailangang ito. Ang mga bagong aplikasyon ay sasailalim sa mga bagong patakaran.

Pagtaas ng NT$2,000 sa Sahod para sa Walang Technical Qualification Restrictions

Ayon sa pinakabagong regulasyon ng Ministry of Labor, ang basic salary para sa technical work sa mga industriya tulad ng manufacturing, construction, ocean fishing, slaughtering, agricultural outreach, agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, at aquaculture ay tinaasan mula sa kasalukuyang NT$33,000 patungong NT$35,000. Ang salary threshold naman para sa exemption sa technical qualifications ay tinaasan patungong NT$37,000.

Para sa social welfare technical work, ang salary threshold ay tinaasan din ng NT$2,000. Halimbawa, ang sahod para sa mga institutional caretaker ay tinaasan mula NT$29,000 patungong NT$31,000. Gayunpaman, tinanggal na ang “salary amount for exemption from technical qualifications.” Ibig sabihin, sa hinaharap, ang mga institutional caretaker na magiging skilled manpower ay dapat sumunod sa mga teknikal na kondisyon (tulad ng Caregiver Technician certification o 20 oras na technical training) at mga kinakailangan sa wika.

Tungkol sa bagong “Diversified Accompaniment Care” service, nagtakda rin ang Ministry of Labor ng mga pamantayan para sa paglipat bilang skilled manpower. Bukod sa pagtugon sa tagal ng serbisyo (sa prinsipyo, hindi bababa sa 6 na magkakasunod na taon) at basic language proficiency o kaugnay na technical training, ang sahod ay dapat umabot sa NT$31,000. Ang teknikal na kwalipikasyon ay kinakailangan at hindi maaaring iwasan sa pamamagitan ng pagtataas ng sahod.

Technical Requirements, Kailangan para sa Institutional at Diversified Care

Para sa mga home caretaker (hindi sakop ng Labor Standards Act at minimum wage) na lumilipat sa home care technical work, ang basic salary ay tinaasan patungong NT$26,000. Ang salary threshold para sa exemption sa technical conditions ay tinaasan din patungong NT$28,000.

Sinimulan ng Taiwan ang “Long-term Retention of Migrant Workers Program” noong 2022. Ang mga migrant worker na nagtrabaho sa Taiwan nang higit sa 6 na taon, o mga overseas student na nakakuha ng associate degree o mas mataas sa Taiwan, ay maaaring kunin ng mga employer para sa intermediate skilled work kung pasok sila sa mga pamantayan ng sahod at teknikal na kondisyon. Ang bawat permit ay may bisa hanggang 3 taon at maaaring i-extend kapag nag-expire, nang walang limitasyon sa bilang ng taon.

Sa pagpapatupad ng bagong sistema ngayong taon, bukod sa pagpapalit ng tawag mula “Intermediate Skilled Workers” patungong “Foreign Skilled Workers,” pinaluwag din ang mga regulasyon upang payagan ang mga employer sa manufacturing na panatilihin ang 100% ng mga kwalipikadong migrant worker, at inalis na ang dating 25% na limitasyon.