Taipei:Taiwan is considering the introduction of a direct hire arrangement for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as announced by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO).
According to Philippines News Agency, Wallace Minn-Gan Chow, the TECO Philippines Representative, unveiled this initiative during a reception in Taguig City. This strategy is part of TECO's efforts to enhance services and protection for Filipinos planning to work in Taiwan.
Chow highlighted that TECO established a labor division earlier this year to provide better and more accessible services to Filipino migrant workers headed to Taiwan. The proposed direct hire arrangement aims to reduce expenses for these workers, improve their protection, and expedite recruitment for Taiwanese companies.
Currently, the Philippines ranks as Taiwan's third largest source of migrant workers, with over 191,000 OFWs employed mainly in steel factories. Beyond labor, there is potential to deepen the partnership between Taiwan and the Philippines in sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing.
Chow emphasized the complementary strengths of both nations. Taiwan offers high technology, advanced manufacturing, and a robust industry supply chain, while the Philippines provides a young and talented workforce along with land and energy resources, presenting opportunities for mutual growth.
Taiwan's economy is projected to grow by 11.05 percent in 2026, driven by demand for AI and emerging technologies. Chow noted Taiwan's leading role in the global AI infrastructure, producing over 90 percent of the world's most advanced chips and AI servers.
