Immigration Department launches link-cutting policy, number of missing migrant workers drops to 88,000

In response to the issue of missing migrant workers that is of great concern to the society, the Immigration Department has recently adopted multiple strategies such as "investigating illegal intermediaries, encouraging self-reporting, and inter-departmental source management" to reduce the number of missing migrant workers from 94,000 at the end of 2014 to 88,000 by the end of September 2015. This shows that the three major strategies of "tracing the source, encouraging filing, and source management" have exerted a synergistic effect to curb illegal detention.

Minister of the Interior Liu Shifang said that in order to demonstrate the government's determination and performance in law enforcement, the Immigration Department and the national security team have strengthened investigation capabilities. In addition to continuing to strengthen the investigation and handling of missing migrant workers, they have also actively traced the source and cracked down on illegal intermediary and group cases with an iron fist, hoping to "investigate and cut off the source" and block the illegal work supply chain.

On the other hand, we will promote flexible law enforcement measures and amend Article 3 of "Article 74-1 of the Entry, Exit and Immigration Act on the Determination of Special Causes and the Standards for Reduction and Reduction of Penalties." Effective from October 1, 2020, we will implement the "self-reporting and halving of fines" measure to encourage missing migrant workers and other overdue immigrants to proactively report to the case. We will also request the Ministry of Labor and other relevant agencies to strengthen publicity, so as to effectively encourage missing migrant workers hiding in the depths to surrender and leave the country in compliance with the restrictions.

In order to achieve the government goal of inter-ministerial joint prevention and prevent migrant workers from being disconnected from the source, the Immigration Department provides policy suggestions based on investigation and handling practices, collaborates with the Ministry of Labor and the competent authorities of various industries to develop improvement strategies, and improves the migrant workers and intermediary management mechanism from the institutional perspective to reduce the incentives for migrant workers to lose contact.

Director of the Immigration Department, Lin Hongen, emphasized that the Immigration Department will use its limited capacity and continue to cooperate with the national security team to carry out investigation and prosecution work. It is estimated that the number of people investigated and dealt with will increase to more than 27,000 in 2015. The number of missing migrant workers has also been effectively reduced to 88,000 recently. This will not only initially curb the illegal detention situation, but also provide stable order for social security and industrial employment.

He said that considering the loss of contact among migrant workers and the resulting security issues, it not only concerns the overall labor market, but also involves cross-departmental power management matters. Law enforcement is only a temporary basis to prevent illegal activities. Prevention at the source and checking the chain to cut off the source are the fundamental solutions. The Immigration Department will implement the Executive Yuan’s foreign population policy, continue to strengthen the inter-ministerial cooperation mechanism, work together to improve various management measures, and jointly maintain social security and national stability.