Taiwan Labour Minister Hsu Ming-chun has issued an apology following backlash over her remarks regarding the recruitment of Indian migrant workers. The comments, deemed as racially insensitive, arose during discussions about Taiwan’s plans to hire workers from Bharat’s Northeastern States, drawing widespread criticism.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an agreement was signed with Bharat on February 16 aimed to enhance bilateral exchanges and address labour shortages in Taiwan’s industries. However, Hsu’s statements on a televised talk show sparked controversy, with her emphasising similarities in skin colour and dietary habits between Indian workers from the Northeastern States and Taiwanese people.
“In response to recent statements from the Minister of Labour, I wish to express my strong condemnation. As a Member of Parliament, I want to reaffirm that Taiwan values everyone, irrespective of their race, culture, or religion. It is my firm belief that individuals from all backgrounds deserve respect, and I am committed to upholding this principle in Taiwan,” Democratic Progressive Party legislator Chen Kuan-ting stated in a video post.
The comments triggered swift condemnation, with Democratic Progressive Party legislator Chen Kuan-ting denouncing the remarks and outlining the importance of non-discriminatory recruitment practices.
At a legislative hearing, Hsu apologised, stating, “Taiwan’s labour policies, whether directed at local or foreign workers, are crafted with equality in mind and are never discriminating.” She clarified her remarks were not intended to discriminate and expressed admiration for Indian workers’ capabilities.
Both the Labour Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued apologies, showing Taiwan’s commitment to equality and fair treatment of all workers, regardless of ethnicity.
“In a statement, Taiwan’s Labour Ministry apologised for Hsu’s ‘inaccurate’ choice of words, saying that the minister’s comments were not meant to discriminate,” the Ministry stated.
“In a statement on Tuesday, the MOFA also apologised for ‘not entirely appropriate’ narratives by Taiwan’s government agencies regarding the planned recruitment of Indian workers that has sparked criticism internationally and domestically,” the statement added.
Moving forward, Taiwan pledges to review its actions and enhance cultural exchanges with India to foster mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations.
