Labor In Taiwan Research Articles

Leisure constraints and participant intention among Vietnamese migrant laborers in Taiwan: The role of leisure motivation and cross-cultural adaptation

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between leisure constraints and participation intention, as well as the mediating role of leisure motivation and the moderating role of cross-cultural adaptation. Three hundred and sixty-eight Vietnamese migrant laborers in Taiwan participated in the study. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The results show that leisure constraints were negatively associated with leisure participation intention, although leisure motivation and cross-cultural adaptation were positively associated. Furthermore, leisure motivation mediated the relationship between leisure constraints and participation intention. Moreover, cross-cultural adaptation emerged as a moderator in the interactions between leisure constraints and participation intention, and leisure motivation and participation intention. This study demonstrates the significance of these results for theory, practice, and policy, emphasizing the necessity of addressing leisure constraints and encouraging leisure motivation and cross-cultural adaptation to increase migrant workers’ leisure participation.

Experiences of Male Indonesian Migrant Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Post-Pandemic Period in Taiwan: A Phenomenological Study.

The challenges faced by male migrant workers during the pandemic have not been fully understood. This study aimed to explore the experiences of male Indonesian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan. This study used an interpretive phenomenological design. Twenty male Indonesian migrant workers in southern Taiwan were individually interviewed. Data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. The migrant workers had conflicting emotions during the pandemic, faced challenges during self-quarantine, lived on board ships, and experienced restrictions on social and religious activities. The workers prioritized maintaining their health to ensure that they would not be easily infected while working. COVID-19 vaccines were made available to migrant workers in Taiwan. The workers had many hopes that they would achieve a better and more prosperous life by working in Taiwan than in their home country. Although the 3-year COVID-19 period was difficult for Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan, Taiwan's policies provided hope for them to endure the pandemic. The results have implications for Taiwan's health care system, labor development, and transcultural health care.

Indonesian Students' Mental Health in Taiwan: A Comparison of School-Age Students' and Indonesian Migrant Workers' Mental Health

Spirituality and empathy significantly impact many Indonesian migrant laborers in Taiwan are experiencing mental health issues, highlighting the importance of focusing on this aspect. Non-formal education provides both migrant workers and Indonesian children in Taiwan with suitable educational opportunities. Indonesian students studying in Taiwan: their mental health is analyzed and compared in this research. The study differentiates between students of school age and adult migrant workers studying in Taiwan. Utilizing a case study approach, the research involved seven student participants. The findings indicate that school-age students exhibit good mental health. Conversely, Indonesian migrant workers who are students face numerous challenges in non-formal education. They experience higher levels of stress, struggle to adhere to the learning schedule, frequently miss classes, and consequently, do not achieve optimal learning outcomes. The study also identified some students with autism who receive a specialized curriculum to ensure equal educational opportunities (Selvaprabu et al., 2024). These autistic students appear more disciplined and achieve their learning objectives, although at a slower pace. The research suggests implementing counseling strategies to motivate Indonesian migrant workers to pursue education and achieve equal learning opportunities. Additionally, there is a need for Taiwanese students to have access to their autonomous curriculum

Evaluating Taiwan's economic and labour market recovery strategies against COVID‐19

AbstractSince its emergence in 2020, COVID‐19 has profoundly influenced the Taiwan economy and employment landscape, leading to differential impacts across sectors. In response to this unprecedented crisis, the Taiwanese government promptly enacted the “Special Regulations on the Prevention and Rescue of Severe Specific Infectious Pneumonia” on February 25, 2020, which came into force on March 13. This study examines the pandemic's effects through various stages, with a particular focus on the service industry, the sector most affected owing to diminished domestic demand. Using a computable general equilibrium model by integrating monthly changes, the study assess the effectiveness of the Taiwan government's interventions in mitigating job losses and stabilising the economy. Our findings indicate that without the government's relief and revitalisation measures, unemployment rates would have surged significantly. The study underscores the critical role of policy interventions in mitigating the economic impacts of the pandemic.

A singleton pregnancy with placental chorioangioma and hydrops fetalis complicated with mirror syndrome and ritodrine-induced side effects: a case report

BackgroundRitodrine hydrochloride is a widely used beta-adrenergic agonist used to stop preterm labor in Taiwan. Many side effects causing maternal morbidity and mortality have been reported. We report a case complicated with ritodrine-induced side effects and mirror syndrome that was associated with placental chorioangioma.Case presentationA 36-year-old singleton pregnant woman at 25 6/7 weeks of gestation, with an undiagnosed placental chorioangioma, underwent tocolysis due to preterm uterine contractions. Her clinical condition deteriorated, attributed to mirror syndrome and adverse events induced by ritodrine. An emergency cesarean section was performed at 27 1/7 weeks of gestation, delivering an infant with generalized subcutaneous edema. A placental tumor measuring 8.5 cm was discovered during the operation, and pathology confirmed chorioangioma. Gradual improvement in her symptoms and laboratory data was observed during the postpartum period. Identifying mirror syndrome and ritodrine-induced side effects poses challenges. Therefore, this case is educational and warrants discussion.ConclusionOur case demonstrates mirror syndrome induced by chorioangioma, which is rare, and ritodrine-induced side effects. The cessation of intravenous ritodrine and delivery are the best methods to treat maternal critical status due to fluid overload.

Using the Health Belief Model to Explore the Influencing Factors of Occupational Hazard Prevention of Indigenous Laborers in Taiwan

Using the Health Belief Model to Explore the Influencing Factors of Occupational Hazard Prevention of Indigenous Laborers in Taiwan

Epidemiology of Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome among Southeast Asian Labor in Taiwan

Epidemiology of Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome among Southeast Asian Labor in Taiwan

Cost-Effectiveness of Sugammadex Versus Neostigmine to Reverse Neuromuscular Blockade in a University Hospital in Taiwan: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Sugammadex has several pharmacological advantages over neostigmine, including faster reversal of neuromuscular blockade and fewer adverse effects. However, the economic impact of sugammadex remains controversial due to the considerable heterogeneity of study designs and clinical settings in previous studies. In a post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial, we evaluated patients who underwent elective surgeries and general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation in a medical center in Taiwan between March 2020 and August 2020. Patients were divided into either the sugammadex or neostigmine group based on the neuromuscular blocking drug used. Propensity score matching was used to balance the baseline patient characteristics between the two groups. The patient’s recovery from anesthesia and the putative cost-effectiveness of sugammadex versus neostigmine was assessed. Derived cost-effectiveness using personnel costs in the operating room and the post-anesthesia care unit was estimated using multiple linear regression models. A total of 2587 and 1784 patients were included before and after matching, respectively. Time to endotracheal extubation was significantly shorter in the sugammadex group (mean 6.0 ± standard deviation 5.3 min) compared with the neostigmine group (6.6 ± 6.3 min; p = 0.0032). In addition, the incidence of bradycardia was significantly lower in the sugammadex group (10.2%) compared with the neostigmine group (16.9%; p < 0.001). However, the total costs were significantly lower in the neostigmine group (50.6 ± 21.4 United States dollars) compared with the sugammadex group (212.0 ± 49.5 United States dollars). Despite improving postoperative recovery, the benefits of sugammadex did not outweigh its higher costs compared with neostigmine, possibly due to the low costs of labor in Taiwan’s healthcare system.

Long-run macroeconomic consequences of Taiwan's aging labor force: an analysis of policy options

Taiwan is poised to become a super-aged society. We found there exist long-run relationships involving key macroeconomic variables and population age shares. The findings indicate that Taiwan's aggregate production exhibits increasing returns to scale where the quality of labor input is the single most important source of growth. The out-of-sample forecast plots envisage that Taiwan's aging labor force does not necessarily decelerate real GDP growth for at least a decade or more. In particular, there are viable policy measures to curb labor shortages due to the shift in the age structure of the labor force caused by population aging.

Increased Risk of Gastric Cancer in Asbestos-Exposed Workers: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on Taiwan Cancer Registry 1980–2015

Asbestos has been recognized as a human carcinogen associated with malignant mesothelioma, cancers of lung, larynx, and ovary. However, a putative association between gastric cancer and asbestos exposure remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to explore gastric cancer risk of workers potentially exposed to asbestos in Taiwan. The asbestos occupational cohort was established from 1950 to 2015 based on the Taiwan Labor Insurance Database, and Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency regulatory datasets, followed by the Taiwan Cancer Registry for the period 1980–2015. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for cancer were computed for the whole cohort using reference rates of the general population, and also reference labor population. Compared with the general population, SIR of the asbestos occupational cohort for the gastric cancer increased both in males (1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.09) and females (1.10, 95% CI: 1.01–1.18). A total of 123 worksites were identified to have cases of malignant mesothelioma, where increased risk for gastric cancer was found with a relative risk of 1.76 (95% CI: 1.63–1.90). This 35-year retrospective cohort study of asbestos-exposed workers in Taiwan may provide support for an association between occupational exposure to asbestos and gastric cancer.

Extrinsic motivation: Vietnamese laborers in Taiwan

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to test four hypotheses regarding correlations between extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, employer trust and workplace learning which were hypothesized to relate to cross-cultural adaptation, which is significant in workers’ effectiveness in foreign contexts.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire based study of Vietnamese lower skilled workers in Taiwan.FindingsEach of the four factors had significant positive correlations with cross-cultural adjustment. The sample consisted of lower skilled workers in manufacturing and.Practical implicationsThe current study provides evidence for the importance of extrinsic motivation, workplace learning, self-efficacy and employer trust in cross-cultural adjustment for lower skilled workers.Originality/valueLow skilled workers adjustment to new cultures has rarely been discussed in previous literature.

Body volume estimation equation for male laborers in Taiwan

The purpose of this study was to develop a body volume (BV) estimation equation for male laborers in Taiwan with body weight (W) and stature height (H) as initial estimators. A three-dimensional (3D) body scanner and a 3D foot scanner were used to measure the 3D range data of 100 male laborers in this study. Subjects’ BV was extracted from the 3D body model, and H and W were used as independent variables in regression analysis. The results show that the final BV estimation equation is BV = 1122.927 × W 0.972, with R 2 = 0.949. Thirty extra male subjects were scanned to compare this BV estimation equation with those in previous studies. The results show that this BV estimation equation had the smallest absolute mean difference at 1.1458 L and the smallest standard error of the estimate at 2.48% in comparison.

Association of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) with ectopic pregnancy and preterm labor in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study.

BackgroundPelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infectious disease that causes tubal occlusion and other pelvic and abdominal adhesions. The incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) has increased due to the sexually active status of the young population. This leads to a more serious problem and a larger effect than previously observed. However, there have been few studies on this topic in Asian populations.AimWe aimed to evaluate the risk of preterm labor and/or ectopic pregnancy in Taiwanese women following PID.DesignUsing the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database, we designed a retrospective cohort study that included 12- to 55-year-old pregnant women between 2000 and 2010. We selected a 1:3 age-matched control group of non-PID women. The endpoint was any episode of preterm labor or ectopic pregnancy; otherwise, the patients were tracked until 31 December 2010.MethodsThe risk factors for preterm labor or ectopic pregnancy were explored. For cases included from the index date until the end of 2010, we analyzed the risk of incident preterm labor or ectopic pregnancy. With the use of a multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, we calculated the hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% CI and compared it with that of the control group.ResultsThis study examined 30,450 patients with PID and 91,350 controls. During the follow-up period, patients in the PID group were more likely to develop preterm labor or ectopic pregnancy than patients in the control group. The cumulative incidence rates for developing preterm labor were 1.84% (561/30,450 individuals) in patients with PID and 1.63% (1492/91,350 individuals) in patients without PID. On the other hand, the cumulative incidence rate for developing ectopic pregnancy in patients with PID was 0.05% (14/30,450 individuals) but was only 0.04% (33/91,350 individuals) in patients without PID. Compared with those without PID, the patients with PID had a 1.864 times (P<0.001) higher risk of developing preterm labor and a 2.121 times (P = 0.003) higher risk of developing ectopic pregnancy.ConclusionOur study provided evidence of an increased risk of preterm labor or ectopic pregnancy in PID patients.

The Protection of Employee According to Taiwan Labour Standards Act

The Taiwan Labor Standards Act (LSA), which was established in 30, July 1984, is the most important law that protects labors in Taiwan. And it was only after the LSA was passed that the systematic researches on labour law begin. The LSA is a relative young field and many conceptions were uncertain, so by its implementations we inevitably have to face many difficulties. To this the Judiciary plays the decisive role. But as it is the common practice the judge frequently cites the scholars’ opinions to support the decision. In this article the author will explain how the judiciary cooperating with the scholars to give better answers, especially to protect the employee, through defining ‘employee’, ‘employer’, to the problems concerning the wages, the working hours and the dismissals. Overall, we agree with a famous German scholar Gallmmilscheg to say “Richterrecht bleibt unserer schicksal” (“Judiciary remains our destiny”) and the scholars will also make their contributions to this.

Thai Guestworker Export in Decline: The Rise and Fall of the Thailand-Taiwan Migration System

For decades, rural Thais have been employed as “guestworkers” in the Middle East and Asia. Once the predominate source of guest labor in Taiwan, Thais are being replaced by migrants from other countries. Building on the migration systems literature, we examine this transition. We find that Thais are increasingly deciding against work in Taiwan because of a diminishing wage gap between the two states. We argue that one outcome of the maturation of guestworker programs in Asia and the Middle East is the succession of migrant groups, especially a decline among those from relatively prosperous labor-sending states.

Detecting policy effects with wage rigidity and instability – evidence on the Taiwan labour market

ABSTRACTWith stagnant wages and growing productivity, a widening gap is becoming prevalent in global labour markets. The relationship between wages and productivity has become indeterminate, especially after the 2008 financial crisis. This article presents the phenomenon for why salary rarely follows up with productivity after an economy recovers. By using the GMM method, this study shows the interaction among wage, productivity and tightness, in which we illustrate the Taiwan labour market as an example to show how hiring system changes press wages away from an efficient allocation, causing instability and market failure. Surveying 35 labour markets for different industries, we reveal that the situation in the labour markets has drastically changed since 2008. We find that this resulted in a severe problem when the Taiwan firms got used to policies like ‘22K’, ‘fix-term contract’ and ‘unpaid leave’ programmes. These plans negatively impacted the economy and raised market failure with instability.

Expanding College Access in Taiwan, 1978–2014: Effects on Graduate Quality and Income Inequality

Between 1990 and 2014, Taiwan increased the college share of its labor force from 7 to 32 percent by converting junior colleges to 4-year colleges. Such a rapid surge in skill supply should suppress college wages and lower wage income inequality. Instead, wage inequality rose 7 percent since 1978. We show that the surge of weaker college graduates made them poor substitutes for better-trained college graduates and led to an increase in wage inequality within skill groups. Rising wage inequality due to increased variation in the quality of young college graduates added another source of inequality to the Taiwan labor market. The Taiwan case shows that increasing college access alone will not lower inequality.

Taiwan Temporary Workers and Labor Marginalization in the Context of Segmented Labor Market, 1991-2010

From the perspective of segmented labor market theory, this paper aims to provide evidence-based study on temporary workers and labor marginalization in Taiwan in the period of 1991-2010. New phase of industrial restructuring and monopsony dating back to the early 1990s serves as the main force in shaping Taiwan labor market which is characterized by new type of segmented labor market. The paper demonstrates (1) temporary workers in general and foreign contract workers in specific, and (2) status of labor marginalization by using composite indicator derived from wage gains and working load. Main findings are: (1) because of deindustrialization, manufacturing offshoring, and new business monopsony, temporary workers including foreign contract workers and low-workload low-pay workers are surging, being mostly selective of females, the youth, the less educated, and workers in traditional manufacturing and electronics; (2) in specific, based on existing research, the paper characterizes the interaction of immigrant contract workers with Taiwan native-born workers. The paper concludes that entrapped temporary workers and labor marginalization are polarizing Taiwan labor market and growing foreign contract workers who are entrapped in secondary labor market too are associated with enhancing labor market segmentation effect. Tensions surge sharply in secondary labor market and feelings of relative deprivation among workers in secondary labor market rise sharply. Thus profound and insightful institutional changes in labor market are urgently required.

The Cyclical Properties of Unemployment and Vacancies in Taiwan

AbstractThis paper examines the quantitative performance of the standard search and matching model in explaining the cyclical behaviour of Taiwan's labour market. Although the model accounts well for the data in some dimensions, simulated volatility is counterfactually very low, as pointed out in Shimer (2005) for the US labour market. Nevertheless, calibrated to Taiwan's data, the model explains a higher proportion of the observed volatility than the Shimer (2005) results, due to a higher parameter value for leisure; if an extremely high value is assumed, the model explains substantially better, but still partially, the volatility in Taiwan.

Working class formation in Taiwan: fractured solidarity in state-owned enterprises, 1945–2012

A systematic analysis of Taiwan's labor movements is rare in the fields of comparative politics, political sociology, labor studies, and social movements. Working Class Formation in Taiwan fills th...