Initiatives & Advocacy
Initiatives
&
Advocacy
2020 The Labor Rights of Migrant Caregivers and the Sustainability of Long-term Care System in Taiwan
The forum aims to create a platform for people from multiple backgrounds including academia, practical works, government offices etc. to talk about and share the experiences and challenges about the policies and realities related to migrant caregivers, care needs and long-term care system in Taiwan.
2021 Pregnant Migrant Women and their Children, Children Hidden in the Corner
As of December 2021, the total number of migrant workers in Taiwan is about 670,000, of which women migrant workers account for the majority at 350,000, over half of the population (53%). Most of the women migrant workers aged between 25 and 40. Gradual transition from one life stage to aother is natural to all women, such as falling in love, getting married, becoming pregnant, and raising children. However, what makes these women migrant workers extraordinary is that they are working in a foreign country. It turns out that motherhood and childcare are of great challenge to them.
2022 Forum for Caregivers & Caregiving Public Policy
Garden of Hope Migrants in Taiwan (GMT) advocates addressing the mental health issues of migrant workers
GMT believes that in addition to economic incentives, the physical and mental stability and social life of migrant care workers are key factors in retaining talents. Kaili Li, director of the GMT, pointed out: "The local society must recognize the social contributions of these immigrants, welcome migrant workers to join the social space with an open attitude, and remove the stigma of discourse."
In this regard, our country should refer to the World Health Organization's response strategy for migrant workers' mental health, including overcoming obstacles for migrant workers to obtain mental health services, integrating migrant workers' mental health into primary medical services, ensuring continuity of services, and paying attention to social factors. Impact, through equal access to employment opportunities and dignified work, vocational training, financial support, social protection services, legal and law enforcement agencies, as well as mental health care and psychosocial support, can promote the social integration of migrants and refugees, together address the issues of dignified labor and mental health of migrant workers.
Among them, promoting social integration and inclusion is a positive prevention factor. GMT Initiative:
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We should face up to the contribution of migrant care workers to Taiwanese society, provide dignified and equal labor protection from a substantive legal perspective, and reduce the mental health risks caused by unreasonable demands.
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Strengthen both employers and employees' emphasis on caregivers' mental health and self-care literacy, and enhance primary medical units' understanding of multiculturalism and friendly communication skills to remove the stigma of psychological distress and mental disorders.
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Focusing on migrant workers, create the subject’s voice and cross-cultural experience, and create a society that is friendly to migrant workers and diverse and integrated.
2022 Towards a Diverse, Mutual Beneficial and Sustainable Developmental Migrant Society
【Thriving future：A Safe Journey toward Vibrant Integration】
｜workshop｜
The workshop focused on issues of foreign policy, multiculturalism, social coexistence and sustainability. We were pleased to have scholars and related departments to discuss the current situation and future prospects with us.
｜exhibition｜
The exhibition displayed the clothing collection of Indonesian caregiver Sriyani (DELICIA BOUTIQ MAKEUP COLLECTION) and Filipino factory worker Mark Lester L. Reyes:
❖ Mark used spoons, bamboo chopsticks and other materials to design Filipino-style, gorgeous and exquisite clothing.
❖ Sriyani combined traditional Indonesian batik with fashionable tailoring, and integrated Chinese elements to show elegant and luxurious Indonesian style clothing.
❖ The Theatre of life in Transnational Migration: Fashion Show of Filipino Designer and Team Mr. Mark Lester L. Reyes
2023 Our Stories of Migration: Social Equity for Migrants & Diversity and Inclusion in Taiwan
There are currently 960,000 foreigners immigrating to study and work in Taiwan, which equals to half of the population of Tainan City.
Why these foreigners come to Taiwan? How should they live in a place where the language and culture are unfamiliar to them? How do they relieve homesickness? How do they adapt to the new environment?
The attendees could explore migrants' stories of migration and their stages of mental journey by visiting the exhibition.
Experts from Indonesia, Israel, and Japan discussed the issues of immigrants in their countries from different perspectives. There were Indonesian dance performances and the attendees experienced the Indonesian dance together!
2024 EU-Taiwan Exchange Forum:
Overcoming Isolation and Vulnerability, Taking Action to Safeguard Human Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers and Fishers
The forum aims to bring together scholars and experts from the EU and Taiwan, representatives from the Indonesian Economic and Trade Representative Office in Taipei, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, and non-governmental organizations. The discussions will focus on various aspects of migrant rights in Taiwan, including the challenges surrounding implementation of the International Labor Organization’s Convention No. 188 on work in the fishing sector and Convention No. 189 on domestic workers, the improvement of the distant water fishing industry and long-term care system, transnational recruitment and management mechanisms, labor environment, and working conditions. The goal is to bolster EU-Taiwan expert exchanges and collectively explore trends and practices in human rights protection.
