Taipei: Legal revisions that expand the eligibility of foreign students enrolled in overseas schools to intern in Taiwan's accommodation sector came into effect on July 11. Previously, only students studying hospitality, culinary arts, or tourism could apply for internships in the accommodation sector. However, under the amended law, eligibility has expanded to include students studying recreation and sports, management, Chinese, or English.
According to Focus Taiwan, the changes aim to help meet the demand for workers in Taiwan's tourism and lodging sectors to accommodate international travelers, as stated by the Tourism Administration. Taiwan's accommodation sector is facing a labor shortage of approximately 5,000 to 6,000 workers, and the expanded eligibility is anticipated to alleviate some of the industry's manpower pressures.
The amendments also focus on protecting the rights of foreign interns by requiring employers to obtain appropriate insurance coverage for their interns. If fraudulent documentation is detected, or if there is any deviation from the approved internship program, including interns going missing or engaging in activities inconsistent with their visa purpose, the internship approval may be revoked.
The internship provider may face a ban from applying to host foreign interns for a period ranging from three months to two years, depending on the severity of the violations, as stated by the administration. Additionally, applying interns must be enrolled in foreign institutions officially listed by Taiwan's Ministry of Education and must have completed at least one semester of study to prevent fraudulent applications.
The original regulations for the internship program only took effect on January 1, 2025, with about 700 people applying for positions since then. Applicants are required to pass interviews with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before being granted entry into Taiwan.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor (MOL) clarified that the regulations involve internship programs rather than job positions, and therefore, do not fall under the ministry's regulatory purview. Current regulations for foreign nationals seeking employment in Taiwan's accommodation sector require degrees in related fields, such as culinary arts or tourism.
For those studying in other fields, relevant training of over 80 hours is necessary, according to the MOL. The ministry has also drafted a bill allowing employment in the sector if an international student has received training by a Taiwanese business and obtained a training certificate. This draft bill is currently undergoing a 60-day public review period for feedback.