I encountered workplace sexual harassment, what should I do? Will reporting lead to deportation?

When working in Taiwan, if someone makes uncomfortable remarks, messages, physical contact, or other sexually suggestive behavior towards you, you do not need to tolerate it just because you are a foreigner, migrant worker, student, or new to Taiwan. Workplace sexual harassment is not 'just a joke,' nor is it because the victim is too sensitive. As long as the other person's words and actions make you feel scared, humiliated, offended, or affect your work environment and safety, you have the right to seek help. Protect yourself first, then preserve relevant evidence If the other person is threatening, following, forcibly touching you, or you are concerned about your personal safety, you should leave the scene and go to a place where someone can help. In case of immediate danger, you can call 110 to report to the police; if you need medical assistance, call 119. If it involves sexual assault, domestic violence, or other sexual violence incidents, you can also call the 113 hotline for help. If sexual assault or serious violence has occurred, it is recommended to go to the hospital or police station first, and do not rush to shower, change clothes, or delete phone messages, so as not to affect the subsequent investigation. Many people think that only being touched counts as sexual harassment, but this is not the case. Repeated sexually suggestive comments about your body or appearance, sending pornographic messages, demanding escort services or sexual favors, unnecessary hugs or touches, using work or salary to demand sexual reciprocation, or even being刁難 (difficult to deal with), ostracized, or having your work reduced due to refusal, can all constitute workplace sexual harassment. The perpetrator is not necessarily the boss; supervisors, colleagues, clients, patients, those being cared for, employer's family members, brokers, or other work-related individuals can all be perpetrators. If circumstances permit, record the time, place, details of the incident, and any witnesses as soon as possible, and save conversations, messages, photos, recordings, medical records, and other materials. Even without video or complete evidence, these records can help explain the incident later. Seek formal assistance if you don't know who to turn to According to Taiwan's laws, employers have a responsibility to provide a work environment free from sexual harassment and to handle complaints in accordance with the law. If the perpetrator is a colleague, supervisor, or other work-related personnel, you can file a complaint through the company's complaint channels to your supervisor, HR, or designated contact person. If you are concerned that the company will not handle it properly, or if the perpetrator is the employer himself, you can also seek assistance from the local labor authority. If you are a foreign migrant worker and do not know how to communicate with your employer, broker, or government agencies, you can call the Ministry of Labor's 1955 Labor Consultation and Complaint Hotline. The 1955 hotline provides services in Mandarin, English, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Thai 24 hours a day, year-round, and can also assist in referring you to the police, local government, legal aid, or resettlement resources. For domestic caregivers or household helpers, the workplace is the employer's home, and seeking help may be more difficult. However, even if the perpetrator is the employer, the person being cared for, or a family member of the employer, you can still seek help from 1955, 110, or 113, and you do not have to bear it alone. Filing a complaint does not mean you will be deported What many foreigners worry about most is not the sexual harassment itself, but the fear of losing their job or even being asked to leave Taiwan after filing a complaint. In fact, filing a sexual harassment complaint with the company, reporting to the police, or seeking assistance from 1955 should not be grounds for deportation or dismissal. Employers should not intentionally reduce wages, transfer positions, reduce work, threaten, coerce resignation, or give other unfavorable treatment because an employee files a complaint. If the employer or broker threatens you with phrases like 'If you say more, I'll send you back home' or 'If you complain, your job will be canceled,' you should also keep relevant evidence and report it to 1955 or the supervisory authority. However, if you are a migrant worker employed in Taiwan, it is still recommended to handle problems through formal channels when encountering issues, and do not go missing or work illegally elsewhere out of fear, as this can complicate subsequent investigations and your work and residency status. If you are not sure whether to formally file a complaint, you can first consult 1955, 113, local labor authorities, school counseling units, social workers, or legal aid resources to understand your rights and possible actions. Inquiring does not mean you have to file a lawsuit immediately, but rather to understand your options. When encountering workplace sexual harassment, the most important thing is to protect your personal safety first, then preserve relevant evidence, and seek help through formal channels. You do not have to silently endure unreasonable treatment just because you are in a foreign land; what truly needs to be addressed is the harassing behavior itself, not the person seeking help.