The China Post staff
The government is moving to widen the scope for more enterprises operating in Taiwan to employ interns from abroad. But the new measure will cover only firms in the service sector.
The finance and economic legal coordination center under the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) came up with the proposal yesterday that is expected to win endorsement from officials attending an inter-ministerial meeting tomorrow.
The relaxation move on the time-honored ban is in response to repeated calls from organizations like the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei and the European Chamber of Commerce Taipei.
Foreign-invested technology companies in Taiwan are presently allowed to hire foreign interns for temporary work. However, only a few firms benefit from the measure since many foreign technology enterprises have moved away from Taiwan to other areas after having waited many years in vain for the government to open the direct transport link between the island and China. But the belated new measure catering to service firms is expected to meet the needs of certain foreign enterprises here.
CEPD officials said the relaxation on the restriction of hiring interns from abroad will not affect the job opportunities for local people because most foreign students and young people will not stay long on their stints. They explained that foreign enterprises wish to employ foreign interns not because they cannot fill up their vacancies.
The companies actually want to cast a wider net to locate young people with potentials and provide long-term grooming in the hope of bringing them aboard after their graduation from universities or graduate schools, the officials said.
The booming economy in China has continued to lure flocks of young foreigners in recent years. The trend inadvertently eclipsed the attraction of Taiwan. Officials hoped that relaxed restrictions can meet the demands of foreign companies and help attract more foreigners who might be able to "develop special affinity" with Taiwan if they have the opportunities to visit and work on the island for a brief period when they are young.