Taiwan considers direct hiring for Filipino workers to cut recruitment costs, TECO says

Taiwan's representative office in the Philippines says it is considering a direct hire arrangement for overseas Filipino workers to lower their costs, strengthen protection and speed up recruitment for Taiwanese companies, which employ more than 191,000 Filipinos.

Taiwan is considering a direct hire arrangement for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines said, according to the Philippine News Agency.

TECO Philippines Representative Wallace Minn-Gan Chow disclosed the plan at a reception in Taguig City, describing it as one of the measures the office is considering to improve its services and protection for Filipinos planning to work in Taiwan.

“Earlier this year, my office, TECO, established a labor division to provide better and more accessible services to Filipino migrant workers going to Taiwan. This will include the introduction of direct hire arrangements in the future,” Chow said.

“Through this mechanism, we aim to lower the expense for Filipino workers going to Taiwan, enhance their protection, and simultaneously expedite recruitment for Taiwanese companies.”

Taiwan's third-largest source of migrant workers

Chow said the Philippines is Taiwan's third-largest source of migrant workers, with more than 191,000 OFWs employed in various companies there, mostly steel factories, HR Asia and the PNA reported.

Beyond labour, he said the two sides could deepen their partnership in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, pairing Taiwan's technology and supply chains with the Philippines' young workforce and land and energy resources.

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