Taiwan to Ease Work Restrictions for Foreign and Overseas Students

The Taiwan Ministry of Labor has announced plans to remove the quota limit and points system for foreign and overseas compatriot students, allowing more of them to stay and work in Taiwan after graduation. The current system, which requires individuals to be employed in one of 15 designated specialized occupations and accumulate at least 70 points across criteria such as education, salary, work experience, and Mandarin proficiency, has been deemed ineffective by the ministry given the large number of foreign and overseas compatriot students graduating annually.

Under the proposed changes, the quota adjustment will be eliminated, providing foreign and overseas compatriot students with greater assurance during their studies and motivating them to stay and work in Taiwan upon completion of their degrees. The ministry will hold discussions with other government agencies to finalize the details of the new policy.

Why this matters: The planned reforms aim to attract and retain international talent in Taiwan, bolstering the country's workforce and competitiveness in the global market. By providing a more welcoming environment for foreign and overseas students, Taiwan seeks to encourage innovation and economic growth.

The decision to remove the quota limit and points system is expected to have a significant impact on the job prospects of foreign and overseas compatriot students in Taiwan. The ministry's commitment to providing these students with greater assurance during their studies and motivating them to stay and work in Taiwan post-graduation highlights the government's recognition of the valuable contributions these individuals can make to the country's economy and society.

Key Takeaways

• Taiwan to remove quota and points system for foreign/overseas students to stay and work.
• Aim to attract and retain international talent, boost workforce and competitiveness.
• Current system deemed ineffective due to large number of foreign/overseas graduates.
• New policy to provide greater assurance during studies and motivate them to stay.
• Ministry to finalize details with other agencies, recognizing value of foreign talent.