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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Economy & Trade

Taiwan employment centers urge firms to retain older workers amid labor shortages

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Taiwan's Ministry of Labor is promoting a program to encourage companies to retain elderly workers, offering subsidies up to NT$258,000 per person.
  • Companies like Juntai Food and the Shengxin Social Welfare Association are successfully employing older workers, citing their stability and experience.
  • The initiative aims to address labor shortages exacerbated by a declining birthrate and an aging population.

Facing a critical labor shortage, Taiwan is increasingly looking to its senior citizens as a vital workforce solution. The Ministry of Labor is actively encouraging businesses to retain and hire older employees through its "Continued Employment of Older Persons Subsidy Program."

the decision was truly great.

— Wang Qiuhui, Manager at Juntai FoodPraising the company's decision to retain an elderly employee.

Companies like Juntai Food, a 20-year-old food manufacturer in Yunlin, have found success by keeping experienced older workers. Manager Wang Qiuhui praised the program, highlighting how retaining 66-year-old Lin Lihong, who has been with the company for 11 years, has been invaluable. Lin is described as a "little teacher" who is familiar with all food production processes, guides new hires, and boosts team morale with her optimistic personality.

the biggest gain is not having to stay home bored.

— Lin Lihong, 66-year-old employeeDescribing the personal benefits of continued employment.

Lin herself expressed that work provides her with purpose and a sense of accomplishment, preventing boredom. Similarly, the Shengxin Social Welfare Association in Yunlin has retained 66-year-old Cheng Yulan as a part-time kitchen assistant for its senior canteen and employs two other staff members over 70 in accounting and home care roles. Association director Guo Yangchen emphasized that age is not a barrier, noting that older employees offer stability, responsibility, and extensive experience, often proving more capable than younger counterparts.

age has never been a limitation; the biggest advantage of older employees is stability, responsibility, and rich experience, making them more capable than younger people.

— Guo Yangchen, Director of Shengxin Social Welfare AssociationHighlighting the benefits of employing senior citizens.

Liao Jiawei, director of the Huwei Employment Center under the Ministry of Labor's Yun-Chia-Nan Branch, stated that older talent is a crucial resource amid declining birthrates and labor shortages. The subsidy program, which reopened for applications on September 1, offers support for up to 18 months per employee, with a maximum subsidy of NT$258,000. This initiative reflects a broader trend of recognizing and leveraging the contributions of older workers in Taiwan's economy.

facing a declining birthrate and labor shortage, older talent has become an important human resource for businesses.

— Liao Jiawei, Director of Huwei Employment CenterExplaining the rationale behind the government's employment initiative.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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