Taiwan electronics sector mulls options to OFWs

Taiwan’s electronics sector is thinking of alternative labor to overseas Filipino workers should the current talks between Philippine special envoy Manuel Roxas II and Taiwanese officials over the Feb. 2 deportation of 14 Taiwan nationals to mainland China break down. Taiwan wants the Philippines to issue an apology, but Roxas is saying he is there to seek the understanding of Taipei and not to say sorry for the incident. Late Tuesday, the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA) said it will stop hiring skilled Filipino workers should Taipei issue a freeze order on Philippine labor. "Some companies are thinking of hiring Thai or Vietnamese workers next time," TEEMA Secretary-General Chen Wen-yi said, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported. The manufacturing sector could train workers from other countries before sending them to the production lines, Chen added. A chunk of OFWs in Taiwan are employed by the electronics parts and component makers. The CNA cited statistics from the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA), showing there are over 77,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan, of which 54,000 are in the manufacturing sector and mostly in factories that make electronic parts and components. The electronics manufacturing sector will suffer the most should the CLA decide to suspend the hiring of OFWs, according to CNA. Chen said the Taiwanese government would likely take steps to help companies deal with a possible labor shortage should the talks over the deportation row fail. Taipei earlier said it was thinking of suspending the import of Philippine labor in retaliation for the way Manila deported the Taiwanese. President Benigno Aquino III sent former Sen. Roxas to Taiwan to iron out the problem. Roxas is sticking to his marching orders not to issue a Philippine apology. — VS, GMA News