TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) expressed concern on Thursday (Jan. 2) over the potential impact of the foreign caregiver policy shift. He was willing to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛福部) to mitigate these effects, prioritizing care rights for families with severe conditions.
The Legislative Yuan (立法院) passed a significant amendment to the Employment Service Act (就業服務法), easing restrictions on hiring foreign caregivers for elderly and cancer patients. This change allows individuals over 80 or those aged 70-79 with stage 2 cancer or above to hire foreign caregivers without a Barthel Index assessment.
Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) emphasized the Barthel Index's medical significance and the need to ensure that foreign labor supports patients genuinely needing care. Chiu assured that the Ministry would handle the amendment's effects appropriately, ensuring adequate care for moderate to severe cases while encouraging milder cases to engage in activities to prevent accelerated disability.
Addressing concerns over the amendment's impact on long-term care policies, Chiu highlighted the availability of over NT$100 billion in the long-term care fund. He plans to integrate this with community care systems to provide comprehensive care solutions.