Foreign Workers Receive NT$110,000 in Year-End Bonus – Taiwanese Workers Frustrated: "Boss Asks Me to Endure Hardships, Is This Fair?"
The number of foreign migrant workers in Taiwan has surpassed one million, playing a vital role in the labor market. They take on many jobs that Taiwanese workers are unwilling to do. Without them, the normal operation of several industries would likely be disrupted.
Recently, a Dcard post titled "Foreign Worker’s NT$110,000 Year-End Bonus" sparked heated discussion. The original poster (OP) shared a salary slip showing a year-end bonus of NT$113,007 and wrote: "This was sent to me by someone else, so I can't verify its authenticity. But if a boss tells us to 'endure hardships together' yet refuses to give even one month’s bonus, then we should just quit…"
This post led to a broad debate. Some netizens criticized the term "Ah-Lao" (a slang term for foreign workers in Taiwan) as inappropriate, stating: "Calling them that is very disrespectful." However, others argued: "In my company, we have workers from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, and we all joke with each other. We call them 'stinky foreign workers,' and they call us 'lazy Taiwanese workers.' After work, we still go out for ramen together. If you think this is discrimination, then you are the one truly discriminating."
Others recalled how foreign workers' salaries have changed over the years: "Ten years ago, if a migrant worker stayed in Taiwan for four years, they could return home and build a house, providing for their entire family for decades. But now, wages aren’t as lucrative as before. A friend of mine spent money recklessly and had to return to Taiwan for work shortly after going back home."
Some sympathized with the hardship migrant workers face:
"They are doing the jobs we refuse to do. I worked in a factory before; they work from 8 AM to 10 PM every day, including Saturdays."
"Without them, many industries in Taiwan would shut down. Their contribution is significant."
"Foreign workers are out under the scorching sun doing physical labor while you're in an air-conditioned office scrolling on your phone. Why are you even jealous?"
"Would you be willing to work 80 overtime hours a month? Just say yes or no."
Others emphasized that the issue isn’t about days off but whether salaries match the work environment:
"If the work is easy and you can earn more by working more, then fewer days off wouldn’t be a problem."
"I used to be in the military, making NT$40,000 a month with 10 days off. Now, I drive for a living, make NT$120,000 but only get 4 days off. Which job do you think is better for me?"
Several commenters pointed out that foreign workers' high incomes mainly come from extensive overtime:
"Their base salaries are set at minimum wage, and the rest comes from working overtime every night. That’s how they reach NT$40,000-50,000. Getting NT$110,000 as a year-end bonus isn’t even that much."
"Most of these jobs are too difficult or underpaid, so Taiwanese workers don’t want them. That’s why our company’s production lines have more and more foreign workers, and the year-end bonuses have also been over NT$100,000 in the past two years."
Additionally, some netizens noted that property prices in Southeast Asia are rapidly rising:
"A townhouse in a prime area in Indonesia now costs at least NT$1 million. If you make NT$30,000 per month, you’d need to save for three years to buy one. But in Taiwan, NT$30,000 a month might only get you a small bathroom space."
