Foreign nationals seek disability rights in Taiwan
Foreign nationals seek disability rights in Taiwan
2023-10-22
Over the years, Taiwan has worked hard to attract more foreign talent to the country. But there are up to 176,000 taxpaying foreign nationals with disabilities, who are unable to access the resources they need. Disability certificates that grant access to benefits are currently only granted to Taiwanese citizens and Japanese residents. FTV reporter Stephany Yang has the story.
Michael Boyden lies in bed, unable to speak and move. His wife Katy Ho cares for him.
She feeds him formula milk through a syringe every two hours and medication every four hours.
She also removes mucus by placing a sterile tube into his mouth. Ho works a full-time job five days a week and spends the rest of her day taking care of her husband, who has Atypical Parkinsonism.
Katy Ho
Michael’s wife
The thing about Atypical Parkinsonism this one creeps in really fast. We don’t have time to prepare. We thought we still had plenty of time. It advanced so fast.
Boyden has lived in Taiwan since 1989. Before being diagnosed with Atypical Parkinsonism four years ago, he was a British business consultant in Taiwan. He traveled around the world giving speeches and accepting interviews for major news outlets to discuss politics and economics. However, in just a span of two years, Boyden lost his speech, body movements, and ability to swallow. Though his wife is Taiwanese and Boyden has lived in Taiwan for 34 years now, he is ineligible for disability benefits because he is not Taiwanese. Katy says the hardest difficulties they face are the lack of grants, access to a disabled parking permit, and respite care.
Katy Ho
Michael’s wife
I was so desperate so I tried to call for the Long-term Care 2.0 the hotline, and they plainly said, "Oh, no. Your subject is ARC holder we don’t provide it." I said, "But I am Taiwanese and I am in distress. Shouldn’t you give me a break?" They said, "No, because the subject is a foreigner. So you are denied." I don’t need to fight for my husband anymore because it is too late. But I believe. But I believe there is hope for the other people. If we have to go through this journey, it doesn’t mean that everybody should go through this journey.
With his smartphone in hand and a screen reader, he listens and responds to messages. This is Andrew Klerck, a South African entrepreneur who first came to Taiwan 18 years ago. He established multinational companies in 58 countries.
After coming to Taiwan, Klerck lost his vision. At the time, he was running an export company. Despite living in Taiwan for eight years and paying taxes, Klerck is ineligible for disability certification. This is the case for all foreign nationals with the exception of Japanese citizens, who are covered by a reciprocal agreement between the Taiwan and Japan governments.
Andrew Klerck
South African entrepreneur
I don’t have any access to something as simple and as cheap as a little beeper that can be installed onto a traffic light to help me cross safely. How much is it going to cost the government if I get run over by a car?
Klerck was also turned away by the Taiwan Foundation for the Blind, which offers free lifestyle and assistive technology training to visually impaired people. Klerck says his disability costs him on average NT$70,000 a month.
Andrew Klerck
South African entrepreneur
It is the unspoken thing that really hurts more than having the disability certificate or the disability parking. It is more of the unspoken words of "Oh, you can’t have this because you are a foreigner." Why am I still seen as a foreigner in Taiwan after 18 years? I am an immigrant.
The lack of access to a disability certificate not only affects adults but also children. Four-year-old Anwynn has left hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which means the left side of her body is weak, affecting her left leg, eyes, and speech. She wears an orthotic device to help her walk. Her mother, Meagunn Hart, is an American who moved to Taiwan with her husband in 2009. After giving birth to her daughter, Meagunnn quit her job in publishing to provide care full time.
Meagunn Hart
Anwynn’s mom
There were no resources available for us. Most daycares would not take a child who has multiple disabilities or there are certain things they can’t do.
Although Anwynn was born in Taiwan, she is not a citizen and is not able to enroll in daycare for children with disabilities, have access to talking devices, or receive subsidized orthotics devices. Though the family calls Taiwan their home, Hart is faced with the difficult decision on whether or not to stay.
Meagunn Hart
Anwynn’s mom
The hospital is not allowed to tell us where we can go to buy one just out of pocket. They are also very expensive. NT$6,000 for per orthotic. Taiwan is what she knows. We would really hate to just pull her away.
Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
Without a disability certificate, foreign nationals are barred from access to resources such as subsidies, respite care, and also a disabled parking permit. Many foreign nationals in wheelchairs and their families say that not being to park in disabled parking spaces is the biggest hardship they face.
An NGO called Crossroads Taiwan is calling for equal disability rights for foreign nationals and immigrants. Crossroads Taiwan launched a Disability Inclusion Campaign on April 14, garnering over 1,145 signatures in 60 days. They also held a meeting with lawmakers in August to discuss the challenges faced by disabled foreign nationals.
David Chang
Crossroads secretary-general
We are looking at a number of about 40,000 to 176,000 foreign residents in Taiwan who are disabled and not recognized. Taiwan is particularly rare in this sense that it simply does not recognize disability in immigrants simply because of the passport or their nationality.
Crossroads Taiwan says over 50 countries offer immigrants disability certification or benefits to foreign nationals and immigrants that have disabilities. It says that Taiwan withholding access to disability services to foreign nationals could be illegal, due to the fact that Taiwan has signed the UN Convention of Rights with Persons with Disabilities.
David Chang
Crossroads Secretary-General
By not providing foreign residents and immigrants with recognition and care. Is this actually illegal? Since we actually had these laws in place.
Wang Ting-yu
Lawmaker
Although Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations but Taiwan has automatically signed a statement who issued and initiated by UN. Even though we sign laws, in our law system, we failed in the past to pass a law to go along with this kind of statement.
Legislators Wang Ting-yu and Claire Wang have been working to introduce reforms that will be discussed in the current legislative session. The amendments are on the Act for the Recruitment and Employment for Foreign Professionals. If the legislation is passed, it will make disability certificates available to taxpaying APRC holders who have legally stayed in Taiwan for 10 years.
Wang Ting-yu
Lawmaker
We found out, those people who stay in Taiwan for 10 years or 15 years, they pay taxes. Maybe they were teachers, maybe they are some engineers. They pay taxes and sometimes even higher than our citizens. They choose here to stay when they are old. When I realized this situation, I talked to our prime minister Chen Chien-jen directly. He thinks this is a problem we need to fix it. This law fix has been arranged into our agenda. I hope this law, this act, can be passed in October or November.
Claire Wang
Lawmaker
Most of our laws are of course first based on our citizens’ needs. It’s true that much of past legislation doesn’t factor in frequent international engagement. There are about 800,000 foreign nationals with residency rights in Taiwan. Going by the percentage of the population that has disabilities, we’re looking at about 40,000 foreign nationals. About 40 foreign nationals with physical and mental disabilities have been able to obtain a disability certificate. It will be difficult to handle this issue during this legislative session. It may have to wait until the next Legislative Yuan is elected because this last session will be dominated by budget review.
Claire Wang says that voting may have to wait till next year, because the health ministry wishes to survey arrangements in other countries before moving forward. Aside from taxpaying foreign nationals who lack disability rights, there are also approximately 700,000 foreign migrant workers who also lack those rights as they live and work in Taiwan. With Taiwan looking to attract 400,000 foreign workers by 2030, protecting foreign workers with disabilities will also be a test for the government.
For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53
NGO團體推動立法 保障在台外籍身心障礙者權利
2023-10-22
多年來，台灣努力吸引更多外國人才來台。但除了日本公民受到兩國政府之間互惠協議保護，其他外籍身心障礙者都無法申請身心障礙證明，人數多達176000人，一樣繳稅，卻被排除在應有的福利之外，民視新聞專題報導，帶您來看看他們的困境。
Michael Boyden躺在床上，無法說話，也無法移動。生活起居全靠妻子何靜慧打理。
每兩個小時，何靜慧需要替丈夫管灌一次配方奶，每四個小時餵一次藥物。
何靜慧將一根無菌抽痰管放入丈夫嘴裡抽痰。除去每週五天的工作時間，何靜慧剩下的時間，都用來照顧罹患非典型帕金森氏症的丈夫。
[[Michael Boyden妻子 何靜慧]]
"非典型帕金森氏症的病程進展得非常快。我們沒有時間準備。我們以為還有足夠的時間。病程進展如此之快"
1989年，Michael Boyden移居台灣，四年前被診斷出患有非典型帕金森氏症，在這之前，Michael Boyden在台擔任英國公司的商業顧問。他在世界各地演講，並接受新聞媒體的採訪，談論政治和經濟的議題。然而，僅僅兩年的時間，Michael Boyden 就失去了言語、肢體動作和吞嚥能力。儘管Michael Boyden的妻子是台灣人，而且Michael Boyden已經在台生活了34年，卻礙於不是台灣人，無法申請身心障礙證明。何靜慧說，他們面臨的難題包括缺乏補助金、身心障礙者專用停車位識別證和照顧服務。
[[Michael Boyden妻子 何靜慧]]
"我非常絕望，所以我撥打長照2.0專線，對方直接說：不，妳的對象持有的是居留證，我們不提供服務。我說：但我是台灣人，我很苦惱，你就不能讓我喘息一下嗎？他們說：不行，因為對象是外國人，所以妳被拒絕了。我不必再為我的丈夫而戰了，因為為時已晚，但我相信其他人還有希望。我們經歷的這些事，不應該讓每個人都經歷到"
透過智慧型手機的螢幕閱讀器功能，邊聽邊回覆訊息，他是Andrew Klerck，18年前首次來到台灣的南非企業家。
來到台灣後，Andrew Klerck失明了，當時，他經營一家出口公司。儘管在台灣生活了8年並年年繳稅，Andrew Klerck仍然沒有獲得身心障礙者該有的福利。在台灣，除了日本公民受到兩國政府之間互惠協議保護，所有外國人都無法申請身心障礙證明。
[[南非創業家 Andrew Klerck ]]
"我沒資格取得小蜂鳴器，這個可以幫助我安全過馬路，而且簡單又便宜的東西。如果我被車撞了，政府要花多少錢？"
Andrew Klerck也無法獲得愛盲基金會的幫助，該基金會無償為視障人士提供生活用品及技術培訓。Andrew Klerck說，他因為殘疾，每月平均要多花7萬台幣。
[[南非創業家 Andrew Klerck ]]
“那些未說出口的傷害，比擁有身心障礙證明或身心障礙者專用停車證更讓人心痛。那些未說出口的話：哦，你不能擁有這些，因為你是外國人。在台灣待了18年，我仍然被當作是外國人？我是移民。
不僅成年人無法獲得身心障礙證明，兒童也不例外。四歲的Anwynn患有半側偏癱腦性麻痺，導致左側肢體運動功能不佳，影響了左腿、眼睛和言語。她必須穿著矯形器來幫助她行走。她的母親Meagunn Hart是美國人，2009年隨丈夫移居台灣。Meagunn Hart生下女兒後，辭去了出版業的工作，全心全意照顧女兒。
[[Anwynn媽媽 Meagunn Hart]]
"我們沒有資源，大多數日托中心不收患有多種殘疾或無法獨立完成某些事情的孩子"
儘管Anwynn出生在台灣，但因為不是台灣公民，無法進入早期療育日托中心，無法使用語音設備，也不能獲得受到補助的矯形器。儘管他們認為台灣是自己的家鄉，但卻面臨著是否留下的難題。
[[Anwynn媽媽 Meagunn]]
"醫院不可以告訴我們，去哪裡可以自掏腰包購買矯形器。而且價格也很貴，每個矯形器要新台幣6，000元。台灣是她熟悉的地方，我們真的不想把她帶走。"
[[民視英語新聞記者 楊怡安]]
"如果沒有身心障礙證明，外國人無法獲得補貼、喘息服務和身心障礙者專用停車證等資源。許多依賴輪椅的外國人及其家人表示，不能停身心障礙者停車位是他們面臨到最大的難題"
非政府組織"台灣全球連結發展協會"，致力於推動政府給予外籍身心障礙者平等的身心障礙證明。協會於4月14日發起一項宣導活動，60天內獲得超過1，145人支持。協會還在八月份與立委開會，討論外籍身心障礙者面臨到的挑戰。
[[台灣全球連結發展協會執行長 David Chang ]]
"根據我們的調查，大約有40，000至176，000名在台生活的外籍身心障礙者，沒有得到身心障礙證明。台灣是少見因為護照或國籍而不承認外籍身心障礙者的國家"
"台灣全球連結發展協會"表示，全球有超過50個國家或地區提供外籍身心障礙者身心障礙證明及福利。該協會指出，台灣有相關法律承諾會遵守"身心障礙者權利公約"，所以現在這樣的情況可能已經違法。
[[台灣全球連結發展協會執行長 David Chang]]
"不向外國居民和移民提供認可和照顧，這實際上是違法的嗎？因為我們已經制定了這些法律"
[[立委 王定宇]]
"台灣雖然不是聯合國的會員國，但台灣主動簽署了聯合國發表的聲明。儘管我們公布了施行法，但在我們目前的法律體系中，沒有一條法律可以配合"
為了解決這個問題，立委王定宇和王婉諭提出《外國專業人才延攬及僱用法》修正案，預計將在這個會期審議，若修正案順利通過，在台居住至少10年的外籍人士，將有資格申請身心障礙證明。
[[立委 王定宇]]
"我們發現，在台灣居住10年、15年的人，也許是老師，是工程師，他們繳的稅甚至可能比我們公民還要多。他們退休後選擇留在這裡。當我意識到這個問題時，我和行政院長陳建仁討論，他認為這是極需解決的問題。現在這項修正案已經排到議程中，我們希望能夠在10月或11月通過"
[[立委 王婉諭]]
"我們的法律大部分當然都是從我們公民，就是從我國人開始著想，的確過去在很多法律訂定的情況之下，我們跟國際上的關係和互動可能不是那麼多，在台灣有居留權的外籍人士大概有80 萬左右，依照身心障礙者的比例，大約換算起來有接近有4萬人，實際上，有身心障礙者證明的大約是40位左右。這個提案不太容易會在這個會期做處理，可能要等到下一屆的立法院會期，因為現在只剩下一個會期，下一個會期是預算會期"
立委王婉諭表示，可能要等到明年立院才會投票，在此之前，衛福部要盤點台灣與他國的關係。除了外籍人士，約70萬在台生活和工作的外籍移工也無法獲得相同的權利。台灣希望在2030年前引進約40萬外來就業人口，如何保障外籍身心障礙者，將是一大考驗。
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