PAPER ID: Vol. III Issue III (October to December 2025 ) /14-20 /2
AUTHOR : Yun-Hao, Chuang
TITLE: MIGRANT LABOR IN EAST ASIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RIGHTS IN TAIWAN AND JAPAN
ABSTRACT: The official statistics for 2024 show that the number of foreign migrant workers in Japan has exceeded 2 million for the first time, while Taiwan has surpassed 750,000. Both countries are experiencing a continuous increase in the number of migrant workers. Therefore, this study aims to explore the policies and practices of Taiwan and Japan regarding the “human rights issues” of international migrant workers. The research objective is to comprehensively understand the current situation of Taiwan and Japan regarding the human rights issues of international migrant workers, and to examine the effectiveness and shortcomings of their policies. The study seeks to provide recommendations to enhance the protection measures for international migrant workers in both countries.
The research background stems from Taiwan and Japan being relatively mature economies in the Asian region. Influenced by globalization, aging populations, and declining birth rates, both countries have seen a continuous increase in the number of international migrant workers in recent years. This phenomenon is leading to various social issues such as labor utilization, population dynamics, social security, and conflicts related to race and culture. As a result, safeguarding the labor rights of migrant workers has become a focal point of societal concern. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a comparative study of the policies and practices in both countries to provide insights and references for the formulation and implementation of relevant policies.
This study first conducts a policy analysis to compare the legal frameworks and policy regulations concerning the protection of migrant workers’ labor rights in Taiwan and Japan. It aims to explore the “institutional design,” “implementation effectiveness,” and “existing issues” in both countries. Through a literature review, the study delves into the level of societal attention towards the “international migrant worker issue” in both countries, the involvement of the public and civil society organizations, relevant conventions and recommendations from international labor organizations, as well as the development and trends in related research.
This study aims to investigate the labor rights of foreign migrant workers in Taiwan and Japan, focusing on the policy issues and resulting social phenomena in the utilization of labor forces in both countries. Through a comparative analysis of policies, the study will examine historical backgrounds and development, legal contexts, international trends, and nationalist perspectives as key aspects for conclusions and explorations. Recommendations will be provided for policy implementation. Through this research, a deeper understanding of the similarities and differences in the human rights issues of international migrant workers between Taiwan and Japan will be gained. This study aims to offer crucial insights for policymakers in both countries to better protect the rights of international migrant workers, promoting social equity and respect for human rights.
KEYWORDS: Migrant Worker, Basic Labor Rights, Comparative Research , Labor Force
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