Yunlin County uses trucks broadcasting in Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian to inform foreign workers

Yunlin County in Taiwan has launched an innovative campaign to enhance legal awareness among its significant foreign worker population. The county government's Labor Affairs and Youth Development Bureau has transformed two trucks into mobile public announcement vehicles, broadcasting crucial information in multiple languages.

These repurposed trucks now serve as a vital communication channel, playing recorded messages in Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian. The broadcasts focus on key regulations, including traffic safety rules such as obeying traffic lights, avoiding drunk driving, and adhering to speed limits. They also address environmental concerns, urging workers not to litter.

The initiative targets the approximately 30,000 legal foreign workers residing in Yunlin County. Many face challenges due to language barriers and unfamiliarity with Taiwanese laws and customs. Reports from local residents in areas like Xiluo and Erlun townships have highlighted instances of foreign workers disregarding rules, such as riding electric scooters or bicycles carelessly and littering in rural areas.

Bureau Chief Chang Shih-chung explained the rationale behind the campaign, stating, "When people hear their native language abroad, they usually pay special attention." He noted that traditional, standardized legal awareness campaigns have often proven ineffective. By broadcasting messages in workers' mother tongues, the county hopes to achieve a more persuasive and impactful outcome. The unique approach has already garnered attention from local residents, some of whom initially mistook the broadcasts for major announcements due to the unfamiliar languages.

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When people hear their native language abroad, they usually pay special attention.