Taiwan Celebrates Unity: Thousands of Indonesians Mark Eid al-Fitr in Taipei

A vibrant gathering underscores the strong bonds between Taiwan and its Indonesian community, highlighting labor contributions and cultural exchange.

Taipei, March 31 – Despite the rain, approximately 20,000 Indonesian worshippers gathered at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei to observe the Eid al-Fitr prayer. This significant event, held on Monday, marked the end of Ramadan, a month-long period of fasting for Muslims.

The Indonesian Economic and Trade Office (IETO) to Taipei and Nahdlatul Ulama Taiwan jointly organized the celebration, which commemorates the "day of victory" for Muslims following their observance of Ramadan, which took place from February 28th to March 29th.

Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) attended the event, delivering a speech that acknowledged the valuable contributions of Indonesian workers to Taiwan's economic and social fabric.

Hung emphasized the significant role migrant workers play in Taiwan's economic prosperity, with a substantial portion hailing from Indonesia. He noted that of the more than 800,000 migrant workers in Taiwan, over 300,000 are Indonesian citizens.

Furthermore, Hung highlighted the important role Indonesian domestic caregivers play in Taiwanese families, with over 190,000 working in this capacity, representing approximately 80% of all migrant caregivers in the country. He extended his gratitude to the Indonesian community for their dedication.

"The Ministry of Labor (MOL) will continue striving to improve your working conditions, including worker rights and income. We will work toward incremental improvements," Hung stated to the gathered crowd.

In his address, Hung underscored the importance of both labor policies and cultural understanding in fostering positive relations. "Beyond labor policies, religion and culture are also crucial to improving relations between two countries and between employers and employees."

"The MOL will continue working to ensure employers in Taiwan understand this, so that employer-employee relationships between Taiwanese and Indonesians are even more harmonious," Hung affirmed.

According to the IETO, the event drew an impressive turnout of over 20,000 attendees.

Indonesia's Representative to Taiwan, Arif Sulistiyo, shared that the IETO organized 30 separate Eid prayers across Taiwan on the same day.

Following the prayers, over 100 Indonesians participated in an "open house" event at the IETO's headquarters in Taipei's Neihu District. This provided an opportunity for fellowship, feasting, and greetings.

Arif highlighted the significance of the event for Indonesians in Taiwan unable to return home for Eid al-Fitr, providing a platform to strengthen community bonds, particularly for those who are often time-constrained.