Taiwan Labor Minister Apologizes for Remarks on Indian Migrant Workers

Taiwan’s Labor Minister, Hsu Ming-chun, issued an apology for her controversial remarks concerning the recruitment of Indian migrant workers, which stirred backlash among the public and international stakeholders. Speaking during a legislative hearing on Tuesday, Hsu expressed regret over her “inaccurate” choice of words during an online talk show appearance, emphasizing that Taiwan’s labor policies are designed with equality in mind and do not discriminate based on race, culture, or religion.

The controversy began after Hsu commented on prioritizing the recruitment of workers from northeastern India due to their skin color and dietary habits, comments that were quickly criticized for being inappropriate. Legislator Chen Kuan-ting and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan), were among the first to denounce the remarks, reaffirming Taiwan’s commitment to valuing and respecting individuals from all backgrounds and the country’s readiness to foster cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between Taiwan and India.

The incident comes in the wake of a memorandum of understanding signed between Taiwan and India, aiming to facilitate the employment of Indian migrant workers in Taiwan. Both countries have expressed intentions to overcome the controversy and work towards enhancing their cooperative and cultural relations, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and understanding in their partnership.

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