A Recommended Integrated Mechanism to Enhance OSH Management of Blue-Collar Foreign Workers in Taiwan

Abstract

This study examines the roles and functions of businesses, labor-exporting countries’ representative offices in Taiwan, religious organizations, and manpower agencies in promoting occupational safety and health (OSH). It also offers advice to Taiwanese authorities on making policies and improvements regarding the oversight mechanism mandated by the Labor Safety and Health Act, giving them an idea of what to focus on when enforcing control over blue-collar foreign workers’ OSH conditions. This study also proposes that Taiwanese authorities may serve not only as an overseer/inspector of those hiring blue-collar foreign workers in Taiwan, but also expand their role to lay down policies regarding a variety of OSH teaching materials in the blue-collar foreign workers’ native languages (spoken or written), the qualifications of translators in blue-collar foreign workers’ OSH training programs, and regulations concerning the longer hours such training programs take.