Working in Taiwan, what insurance and benefits can foreign migrant workers enjoy?

When you receive your payslip each month, you may see deductions for health insurance premiums, labor insurance premiums, etc. These fees are not just a portion of your salary being deducted; they provide basic protection in case of illness, injury, disability, or occupational accidents. However, the insurance applicable to foreign migrant workers varies depending on the type of work they do. Factory workers, construction workers, institutional caregivers, and domestic helpers cannot all be understood under the same set of regulations. National Health Insurance covers general medical expenses Migrant workers holding a residence permit and legally employed should, in principle, have their National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment handled by their employer from the date of employment. After enrolling in NHI, you can use your NHI card to see a doctor at a clinic or hospital. You will typically only need to pay a registration fee and a co-payment, rather than the full medical cost. Common coverage includes: • General outpatient and emergency services • Inpatient treatment • Examinations and some prescription drugs • Dental and some rehabilitation treatments • Prenatal check-ups and eligible medical services NHI does not cover all expenses. You may still need to pay for room differentials, self-paid medications, some medical supplies, and non-essential services. If you find that you do not have an NHI card, your NHI card cannot be used, or your salary has been deducted for NHI premiums but you cannot find your enrollment information, you should first confirm with your employer, or contact the National Health Insurance Administration or the 1955 hotline. Occupational Accident Insurance protects against work-related injuries All legally employed migrant workers, including foreign domestic helpers and household helpers, are generally subject to mandatory enrollment in occupational accident insurance. If you are injured at work, involved in a commuting accident, or contract an occupational disease, you may be eligible to apply for: • Occupational accident medical benefits • Injury and illness benefits during periods of inability to work • Disability benefits • Death benefits and funeral allowances • Vocational rehabilitation or return-to-work assistance For example, injuries sustained while operating machinery in a factory, falls at a construction site, or severe injuries from lifting and supporting while caring for the elderly may involve occupational accidents. After an accident, seek medical attention and explain that it may be work-related. Keep diagnostic certificates, accident photos, work schedules, and records of conversations with your employer. Do not accept a small amount of medical expenses paid privately by your employer and forgo your right to subsequent claims. Labor Insurance varies by job type Most foreign migrant workers employed in factories, companies, construction industries, or other eligible business units should have labor insurance arranged by their employer. Labor insurance may provide benefits for maternity, injury, disability, old age, and death. If eligible, some benefits can still be claimed according to regulations even after leaving Taiwan. The situation for domestic helpers and household helpers is different. Since the employer is a natural person, under current regulations, they are voluntary participants in labor insurance, and the employer may not have enrolled them in labor insurance; however, occupational accident insurance remains mandatory. Therefore, if a domestic helper's inquiry only shows occupational accident insurance, it does not necessarily mean the employer has failed to enroll them. You should first confirm your job type and applicable regulations. Most migrant workers do not have unemployment benefits Employment insurance and labor insurance are not the same system. Most general foreign migrant workers are not covered by employment insurance, so they typically cannot claim unemployment benefits after losing their jobs, unlike some local workers. Foreign spouses and foreign professionals who meet specific conditions and obtain permanent residency may be subject to different regulations. Do not assume you are eligible for unemployment benefits just because your payslip shows "Labor Insurance." Labor pension is not available to all migrant workers Generally, industrial or domestic migrant workers hired to come to Taiwan are not typically subject to mandatory employer contributions to the labor pension fund. The scope of mandatory contributions currently mainly includes foreign spouses, foreigners who have obtained permanent residency, and foreign professionals who meet the requirements. Therefore, "having labor insurance" does not mean that the employer has also contributed 6% to the labor pension. Labor insurance old-age benefits and labor pension are two separate systems. Those covered by the Labor Standards Act enjoy basic labor rights • For those working in factories, construction sites, institutions, or other places covered by the Labor Standards Act, migrant workers, in principle, enjoy the same basic protections as local workers, including: • Not less than the statutory minimum wage • Normal working hours, rest, and leave • Overtime pay • Wages must be paid in full and directly • Compensation for occupational accidents • No arbitrary dismissal Employers or agents cannot arbitrarily deduct wages, nor can they provide labor conditions lower than those stipulated by law simply because the worker is a foreigner. Foreign domestic helpers and household helpers are currently not covered by the Labor Standards Act. Wages, working hours, and leave are primarily handled according to labor contracts and relevant migrant worker regulations. However, this does not mean they have no protection at all; employers are still prohibited from resorting to violence, restricting personal freedom, withholding documents, or violating the employment contract. Regular health check-ups are not the same as general medical care Some migrant workers are required to undergo regular health check-ups upon arrival and during their employment. This is to comply with employment and residency management requirements and is different from using NHI to see a doctor when sick. Employers or agents should inform you of the examination times and locations. Do not assume that you cannot go to a clinic or hospital for general discomfort just because you have undergone a migrant worker health check-up. ⚠️You can also check your insurance records yourself⚠️ Do not just look at the names of deductions on your payslip. Migrant workers can use the online systems provided by the Bureau of Labor Insurance and the Ministry of Labor to check their labor insurance and occupational accident insurance enrollment status. You can specifically check: • Whether the enrollment date matches your start date • Whether the insured unit is your current employer • Whether the insured salary is significantly lower than your actual salary • Whether you have been correctly de-enrolled and re-enrolled after leaving your job or changing employers If your salary has been deducted but you cannot find your enrollment records, you should keep your payslips, bank transfer records, and contracts. Call 1955 if you have questions 1955 is a 24-hour labor consultation and complaint hotline, providing services in Mandarin, English, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thai. You can inquire about the following situations: • Employer has not arranged insurance • Injured at work but asked to conceal it • Salary or overtime pay has been deducted • Agent charged unknown fees • Documents have been withheld • Do not know how to apply for occupational accident benefits • Need an interpreter or referral to other agencies Whether insurance exists and what benefits can be claimed should not be based solely on what agents or friends say. Confirm your job type and actual insurance records first to understand what protections you truly have.