Anti-discrimination law passes legislature

The revisions, which passed the third reading, stipulate a maximum NT$30,000 fine for people found to have discriminated against foreign spouses or workers.

Legislator Shyu Jong-shyoung of the Kuomintang said remarks that have been made about foreign spouses, such as their “poor offspring,” or discriminatory advertisements will not be allowed.

He explained that the revised law actually protects the entire nation from such discrimination, but the new immigrants, including over 400,000 foreign and Chinese spouses, are more prone to discrimination. The revised law also gives divorced foreign spouses a chance to stay in Taiwan.

The current law, soon to be scrapped when President Chen Shui-bian signs the new one, requires the foreign spouses to leave after divorce. But the new law stipulates that if divorce results from domestic violence and the foreign spouse has underage children to take care of, they will be allowed to extend their stay.

But Shyu said the revisions are still insufficient to protect victims of domestic violence, as they will be only given an extended stay, not permanent residency.

The revisions also ban agencies from arranging marriages between foreign women and Taiwanese men as a for-profit business. Marriage agencies cannot advertise their operations, or ask for fees.

The revised law gives a one-year grace period for these marriage agencies to end their operations, and violators will be fined between NT$200,000 to NT$1 million if they continue their for-profit operations after the grace period.

Non-profit groups will be allowed to arrange marriages between foreigners and local residents on a purely social service basis.

The current financial requirement and quota system concerning the granting of visas to foreign spouses will also be scrapped because of the new law. As for the rights of foreign workers, the new law will give them more protection from exploitation by their employers.

When foreign workers lose their work visa because of their lawsuits against employers, they will be allowed to stay in Taiwan until the lawsuits have been resolved.

Foreign women who are tricked or forced into prostitution through false marriages will be given protection. These victims of human trafficking will be shown leniency or be exempt from prosecution for violating the law.

Foreign spouses who have valid visas will be allowed to participate in legal public assemblies and demonstrations without having to fear that their visas will be revoked.

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