Taiwan Unveils Flexible Migrant Caregiver Program: A New Era for Family Support

Providing Short-Term and Urgent Care Options for Families Across the Island

Taipei, Taiwan – In a significant development for families across Taiwan, a trial program for flexible migrant caregiver services has been launched, offering a new approach to accessing vital care. Introduced on Monday, this initiative allows families facing urgent or short-term care needs to engage migrant caregivers as dispatched workers through a network of six non-governmental organizations (NGOs) spanning the island.

This innovative program, dubbed the "Multi-Companion Service," caters to eligible families seeking care for a minimum of four hours and up to 24 hours at a time. Crucially, the 24-hour option necessitates a mandatory 10-hour rest period for the caregiver.

According to Su Yu-kuo (蘇裕國), Division Chief at the Workforce Development Agency responsible for migrant worker recruitment, caregivers participating in this pilot program are protected under the Labor Standards Act. This ensures that these workers are paid monthly, with a minimum salary of NT$28,590 (approximately US$865.58).

The Ministry of Labor (MOL) has approved several NGOs to facilitate the program. These include the Red Heart Association, serving Taipei and New Taipei; Yunghsin Social Welfare Foundation, Tung Ting Charity, and "Nantou Xin Xi Fu Care Association," (南投縣新媳婦關懷協會), covering central Taiwan; the Association of Taiwan People Social Welfare, focusing on southern Taiwan; and the Hualien Association of Family Caregivers, providing services in eastern Taiwan.

The cost structure for families is designed to accommodate various care needs. For periods of care exceeding four hours, the cost ranges from NT$1,000 to NT$1,250. Full-day care (24 hours) is priced between NT$3,000 and NT$3,500. Travel fees are charged separately, and additional fees may apply based on the specific needs of care recipients, as defined by the service providers on the program's website: (https://mcs.wda.gov.tw/service-now).

Currently, the pilot program does not extend to the offshore islands of Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, but future expansion plans may include these regions.

Families are eligible to participate if they have a family member with a physical or mental disability, or who possesses a severe illness or injury certificate. Eligibility also encompasses households where a family member has been assessed as requiring long-term care at levels 2 to 8, or who has undergone surgery within the three months preceding an application.

This new approach offers an alternative to the existing model, where foreign care workers are typically employed on a live-in basis. This new program, spearheaded by the MOL, aims to provide a more flexible and accessible solution for families seeking temporary care.

Originally slated to commence in late March, the pilot program was delayed due to feedback on its perceived high fees. However, the program has now been launched and is ready to serve.