A rule that requires migrant workers to present a letter of consent signed by their employer before they are allowed to buy a scooter or electric bike will soon be abolished, according to the Directorate General of Highways (DGH) on Saturday.

Officials agreed during a meeting on Dec. 8 that the rule should be abolished, and relevant paperwork has been sent to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) for approval, the agency said.

The rule change could take effect as soon as next week once it is approved, according to the DGH.

After that, migrant workers would no longer have to provide a letter of consent when they buy a scooter or electric bike, it said.

The rule recently drew fire from New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (???), who criticized it as “discriminatory.”

There were 725,367 migrant workers in Taiwan as of the end of November 2022, according to data released by the Ministry of Labor.

Many of them work in factory compounds which are located in the outskirts or suburbs of cities, where public transportation may be infrequent or inconvenient. Having a scooter would allow them to easily go to the urban areas to run errands and meet with friends, or go sightseeing in scenic spots during their time off.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel