TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Control Yuan disclosed on Sunday (Dec. 10) that approximately 82,000 migrant workers are missing in Taiwan, citing low wages and labor abuse as the primary causes.
The Control Yuan reported during a book launch event that Taiwan is home to 740,000 migrant workers, with over 200,000 having gone missing in the past decade.
Clarifying public misconceptions, four Control Yuan members highlighted that while missing migrant workers might initially appear 'illegal,' many arrived in Taiwan seeking employment but disappeared due to mistreatment and employer control.
The new book presents 33 cases of migrant workers subjected to improper treatment after arriving in Taiwan, including threats from debt collection agencies and spouses remarrying due to their prolonged absence.
Control Yuan members involved in the investigation stressed the systemic issues behind these personal struggles and questioned whether the government and society truly comprehend them.
They hoped the new book would resonate across all sectors and called for government action to reform the current system and protect the rights of foreign workers to end their suffering.