Regulatory Guide for Employing Foreign Skilled Workers in Taiwan's Hospitality Industry

Permitted Scope of Hospitality Service Work

Foreign skilled workers may perform the following duties at legally registered tourist hotels, hotels or homestay establishments:

• Housekeeping services
• Cleaning services
• Reservation operations
• Guest reception
• Other guest service duties performed within the hospitality establishment

Actual duties must remain within the scope of the employment permit issued by the Ministry of Labor and the employment contract. Employers must not assign foreign workers to unauthorized work.

Eligible Hospitality Employers

Overseas Recruitment

Overseas recruitment is limited to employers holding one of the following:

• A tourist hotel business license
• A hotel registration certificate

Homestay establishments are currently not eligible to recruit foreign skilled workers directly from overseas.

Domestic Employment of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Graduates

Eligible employers include:

• Tourist hotels
• General hotels
• Legally registered homestay establishments

Hiring Quotas and Calculation Method

Overseas Recruitment

The number of foreign skilled workers recruited from overseas may not exceed 10% of the insured employee headcount of the business entity.

In principle, an employer may obtain one foreign skilled worker quota for each eligible full-time Taiwanese employee receiving a qualifying salary increase, subject to the overall 10% ceiling.

Domestic Employment of Graduates

The number of foreign and overseas Chinese graduates from Taiwanese colleges or universities employed domestically may not exceed 30% of the insured employee headcount. Employers are not required to obtain these quotas by increasing the salary of a Taiwanese employee.

Combined Ceiling

The combined number of domestically employed graduates, foreign skilled workers recruited from overseas, and foreign skilled workers employed through approved transfer, continued employment or renewal arrangements may not exceed 30% of the insured employee headcount.

Where permitted by the applicable rules, an employer whose quota calculation results in less than one person may generally apply to employ at least one person. The actual approved quota remains subject to the Ministry of Labor's review.

The employee headcount is generally calculated based on the average insured employee headcount for the one-year period preceding the second month before the application month, rather than the headcount on a single date.

Salary Increase Requirements for Taiwanese Employees

When recruiting foreign skilled workers from overseas, an employer must provide qualifying salary increases to eligible full-time Taiwanese employees.

• One qualifying salary increase for a Taiwanese employee provides one foreign skilled worker quota.
• The employee's total monthly salary must be increased by at least NTD 2,000.
• Priority should generally be given to full-time Taiwanese employees at the lowest monthly labor insurance salary bracket within the business entity.
• In addition to the actual salary increase, the employer must report an increase of the employee's labor insurance or occupational accident insurance salary bracket.
• An employee originally insured at the first labor insurance salary bracket must generally be raised to at least the third bracket.
• The salary increase and insurance salary adjustment must be completed within the prescribed period.

If the employer fails to complete the required salary increases, the Ministry of Labor may revoke the corresponding number of employment permits and may restrict future applications for a prescribed period.

An employer directly hiring an eligible foreign or overseas Chinese graduate from a Taiwanese college or university is not required to obtain the quota through a salary increase for a Taiwanese employee.

Salary Standards and Employment Conditions

A foreign skilled worker performing hospitality service work must receive a regular monthly salary of at least NTD 32,000.

Regular salary may include fixed monthly wages, housing allowance, transportation allowance, meal allowance, utilities allowance, monthly work incentives and attendance bonuses. Overtime pay and other non-recurring payments are excluded.

For the domestic recruitment procedure required before overseas recruitment, the position advertised to Taiwanese workers must offer a monthly salary of at least NTD 33,000.

Employers must also comply with Taiwan's Labor Standards Act and related requirements concerning working hours, rest periods, leave, regular days off, overtime pay and other employment conditions.

Education or Work Experience Requirements for Overseas Recruitment

A foreign skilled worker recruited from overseas must satisfy at least one of the following:

• Hold an associate degree or higher from an overseas college or university.
• Have graduated from an overseas senior high school or higher-level institution and possess at least two years of relevant work experience.
• Be a foreign or overseas Chinese graduate holding an associate degree or higher from a Taiwanese college or university.

Final recognition of academic qualifications and work experience remains subject to review by the Ministry of Labor or the relevant competent authority.

Technical Qualification Requirements for Overseas Recruitment

In addition to satisfying the education or work experience requirements, a foreign skilled worker recruited from overseas must generally meet at least one of the following technical qualification requirements:

• Hold a Taiwan Level C or higher technician certificate, or equivalent certification, in Hotel Room Services.
• Have completed at least 40 hours of designated overseas hospitality service training.
• Have passed an approved overseas skills assessment.
• Have completed at least six months of hospitality service internship experience in Taiwan within the three years preceding the application and obtained recognition from the internship host.
• Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an overseas university in hospitality, food and beverage, tourism, sports or leisure, or hold an associate degree or higher in a related field from a Taiwanese college or university.
• Have at least two years of work or internship experience at an internationally branded hotel chain.

Training providers, courses, internationally branded hotel chains and supporting documents must fall within the scope recognized by the competent authority.

Language Proficiency Requirements for Overseas Recruitment

A foreign skilled worker recruited from overseas must satisfy at least one of the following language requirements:

• Pass an A2-level or higher speaking or listening proficiency test in Mandarin Chinese or English.
• Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an overseas college or university and hold a passport issued by a country where English is an official language.
• Have completed at least six months of hospitality internship experience in Taiwan within the three years preceding the application and obtained recognition from the internship host.

A worker relying on English proficiency, nationality from an English-official-language country, or previous internship experience in Taiwan must pass an A2-level or higher Mandarin Chinese speaking or listening test within three years from the commencement of employment.

Requirements for Graduates Employed Domestically

The eligible candidate is generally a foreign or overseas Chinese graduate who has obtained an associate degree or higher from a Taiwanese college or university.

A graduate performing hospitality service work must meet the professional training requirements announced by the competent authority. This may include completing at least 80 cumulative hours of one of the following and obtaining the required supporting documentation:

• Hospitality-related professional training organized by the Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, or by a hospitality industry association recognized by the Tourism Administration.
• An industry-academia internship course organized by a Taiwanese college or university recognized by the Ministry of Education.

Where the case involves an employer transfer, continued employment or an extension of employment, the applicable qualification and documentation requirements must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Overseas Recruitment Application Process

1. 1

   Stage 1 | Domestic Recruitment

   The employer conducts domestic recruitment through a public employment service institution. The advertised monthly salary must be at least NTD 33,000. If the employer is unable to recruit sufficient Taiwanese workers, it applies for a domestic recruitment certificate.

2. 2

   Stage 2 | Certificate of Compliance with Labor Laws

   The employer applies to the local labor authority at the work location for a certificate confirming that it has not violated applicable labor laws.

3. 3

   Stage 3 | Employer Qualification Approval

   The employer submits the employer qualification application, business license or registration documents, domestic recruitment certificate, labor law compliance certificate, Taiwanese employee salary adjustment roster, review fee receipt and other required documents to the Ministry of Labor.

4. 4

   Stage 4 | Candidate Matching and Selection

   After receiving the employer qualification approval letter, the employer proceeds with candidate matching, résumé review and interviews through the designated recruitment platform or another method specified by the government, and confirms mutual employment intent.

   The actual matching mechanism may vary depending on government-to-government cooperation arrangements with the source country.

5. 5

   Stage 5 | Employment Permit Application

   After selecting the candidate and signing an employment contract, the employer applies to the Ministry of Labor for an employment permit. The employer must also complete the required Taiwanese employee salary and insurance adjustments within the prescribed timeline.

6. 6

   Stage 6 | Entry and Onboarding

   After obtaining the employment permit, the parties complete employment contract verification, visa procedures, flight arrangements, medical examinations, entry, residence documentation and onboarding requirements.

   Responsibility for airfare, visa fees, medical examination expenses and other costs must be clearly specified in accordance with Taiwan law, source-country requirements, the employment contract and the applicable recruitment program.

Medical Examination Requirements

Overseas Recruitment

Foreign skilled workers recruited from overseas are generally required to complete:

• A medical examination in the source country or before entry.
• A medical examination within three days after entry into Taiwan.
• Periodic medical examinations after 6, 18 and 30 months of employment in Taiwan.
• After three years of employment in Taiwan, medical examinations in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the existing requirements applicable to the hospitality industry.

Domestic Transfer or Employment

For a domestic transfer, continued employment or another form of in-country employment, the foreign national must provide a valid medical examination certificate within the period required for the applicable status and application category.