Editor's Note

Since the publication of our last issue of ML, Taiwanese society has been struck by tremendous events, the profound ramifications of which are just unfolding. In early September, the Mailiao incident brought the plight of migrant workers to the whole society in an unprecedented scale. Just as we were to finalize our analysis, the 921 earthquake shook the island, not only physically, but also politically. Amidst the tragedies and turmoil, the hideous nature of Taiwanese society has been relentlessly exposed just like the upturned earth on the fault line.

We combined the 3rd and 4th issue of ML, hoping to bring to our readers reports and analysis on both events. Our reports are by no means conclusive, as the shock waves are still felt in all sectors of the society. We therefore welcome contributions from everyone on these two pieces of our collective experience.

Due to logistic difficulties, the Asia-Pacific Mission on Migrant Filipinos (APMMF) is no longer able to participate as a co-publisher of ML. Yet, APMMF will keep providing its regular and important contributions to the newsletter. Some readers have inquired about the subscription of ML. Since this is a free publication, we do not require any fee from readers. Just drop us a line at our address below, and we are more than happy to mail you the newsletter regularly. We do, however, accept donations. Please remittent your donations to the postal accounts below. Your support, in whatever amount, will be greatly appreciated.

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following supporters for helping publishing this issue.

• Cool Louder Web Technical support
• San-Jou Lin Editing
• Jonathan Lassen Translation
• Shu-Hui Jien NT1,000 donation
• Fang-Ping Liu NT2,000 donation
• Robert Hsu US$100 donation
• Chinese Telecommunication Workers Union

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編者的話

在上一期的火星報出版之後，台灣社會發生了天翻地覆的事件，這些事件的深遠影響才正要展開。九月初，麥寮事件以前所未有的規模把移工的苦痛呈現在大社會的眼前。而正當我們在總結這段經驗的時候，921大地震發生了，整個島嶼從自然到政治，無一不受到震撼。在無數的悲劇與混亂之中，台灣社會難以告人的本質如同斷層帶上的土壤一般被無情地暴露出來。

火星報第三、第四期的合刊希望帶給讀者們我們關於這兩個事件的初步報導和分析。這些報導絕不能窮盡事實，因為事件的餘波才剛剛在社會的各個角落發酵著。因而，我們企盼讀者們踴躍投稿，來共同探討我們的集體經驗。

由於人力與資源的短絀，亞太菲律賓移民組織(APMMF)暫時無法再承擔共同出版的任務。但是，APMMF仍然會持續地在稿件和其他方面貢獻於火星報。一些讀者來信詢問要如何訂閱火星報。由於這份出版品是免費的，只要您來信索取，我們一定定期寄上，毋須任何費用。我們歡迎您以樂捐的形式支持火星報的發行，請劃撥到下開帳號。一塊不嫌少、一萬不嫌多，我們會由衷感謝任何捐款。

感謝
本期刊物感謝以下朋友的熱心協助：

• 苦勞網 技術支援
• 林聲洲 排版
• 小賴 翻譯
• 簡淑慧 捐助1,000元
• 劉芳萍 捐助2,000元
• 許登源 捐助美金100元
• 中華電信工會

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Learning During a Crisis

Taiwan has witnessed both man-made and natural disasters in 1999. For the hard-working workers in Taiwan, the days are getting harder and harder. The month of September was particularly rough. In first week, a conflict broke out between migrant workers at the Sixth Naptha Cracker Plant in Mailiao, adding insult to injury to the migrant workers already working under harsh conditions. Then came the most devastating earthquake to hit Taiwan this century, sweeping away the hard-earned gains of workers throughout central Taiwan, and taking many lives as well.

We also watched as government officials were helpless to do anything to solve the plight of the people, even though their slogans of "help the victims" still echoed throughout the hills and towns. The "seriousness" of damage caused by the quake was made worse by incompetence and corruption! The "relief" given to residents was not the result of a vigilant media! And the "rebuilding" should not be on the backs of workers already bent with the weight of heavy mortgages. The workers should be given appropriate means to rebuild their houses and restart their lives!

After surviving the earthquake, victims are faced with an uncertain future. Hard-working and honest workers must be strong and alert! The careless treatment of workers exhibited in the hastily-constructed temporary housing is likely only the beginning, and we must continue to investigate. If we find something amiss in the way that victims are being treated by the government, we should persist in our efforts to improve it. We should learn in the midst of this crisis how the government is unable to maintain "harmony" between workers and capitalists, leaving only the workers to fend for themselves. Workers must learn to analyze the problems that emerge in order to protect workers' rights in the midst of the crisis.

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從危機中學習

1999年的台灣，天災人禍，噩耗頻傳。對於辛勤生活的勞工大眾而言，今年的日子顯然更是一場煎熬。光是一個多事的九月，我們便得付出多少代價才得以承擔：月初發生在移工身上、引起台灣社會廣泛關切的「麥寮六輕事件」，使得原已備受剝削、備受誤解的移住勞工在離鄉背井的工作及生活上雪上加霜；下旬接著一場突如其來的大地震，更殘酷地震毀了許多本地勞工經年累月的奮鬥——屋倒、人亡、前途茫茫。

我們看到「父母官」帶著急切的心，匆忙地想要收拾這些危機之後的殘局；我們卻也同時看到他們的無能為力——「群架」豈是因為口角！「解決」豈應是殺雞儆猴！「管理」豈應是一眛地監視與圍堵！再者，「災情的慘重」並非全肇因於天！「災後的補償」也並非透過媒體的吹捧便得以落實！「家園的重建」更不是在勞工身上施以重重的貸款，勞工們便得以妥貼地重整屋社、重拾生計！

經歷了嚴峻的考驗，面對沈重的未來，認真於樸實生活的勞工是得有著堅強與謹慎的心，卻不能就此閉上眼睛！如果移工群架問題的浮現僅是「冰山的一角」，我們仍應探究到底；如果賑助勞工的方法「不盡人意」，我們還是可以堅持改進。我們得從這些危機中學習到，政府或許為難地在維持著「勞資和諧」，所以能站在勞工立場上大聲說話的只有勞工自己。也只有學習紮實地以勞工立場分析危機所暴露出來的問題，我們才能自危機中找出得以保障勞工權益的轉機。

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There is Basis for Solidarity Between Local and Migrant Workers in Taiwan

Gi Estrada APMMF

A great number of workers in Taiwan wonder if there is really a basis for solidarity between them and migrant workers. This is further made difficult by a simplistic analysis made by some local groups that migrant workers are the main cause of unemployment and the lowering of local workers working conditions. They even state that the importation of foreign labor has lowered local industry's incentive to upgrade their production and that migrant workers cause a lot of social problems.

One important basis for solidarity between migrants and locals lies in the similarities in their working conditions. The similarities are prominent even though migrant workers are paid less and their working conditions are far worse than locals.

In the recently concluded Labor Summit organized by the National Federation of Industrial Unions in Kaohsiung on September 29-30 some of these similarities emerged. Local workers talked about the introduction of labor flexibility in the labor market. They mentioned the introduction of labor contractualization, which the Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) is encouraging. The second one is increasing overtime to as high as 96 hours a month without pay as long as the union agrees to this in writing. One of the workers from the Railway union also complained that his company did not grant his request for retirement even if he had worked for 25 years as is stipulated in the Labor Standards Law. The Railway Company is insisting that company rules state that workers could only retire if they reach the age of 65 years. Another worker also shared that many companies do not base their pension scheme on their regular pay but on a lower pay scale.

The local workers' experience in all four examples is very familiar to migrant workers. All migrants are contract workers with a two-year contract that can be extended to another year. When their contracts end, they get neither severance pay nor pension. Many migrants also are either not paid their overtime pay or are paid below that is stipulated in the Labor Standards Law. In the INFODISK Technology Co. factory in Taipei County, migrants are forced to work overtime in their days-off at piece rates which average $NT30 an hour. Those who refuse to do overtime are fined $NT 500 for the first offense and would be sent home if they refused a second time.

Most employers who make use of migrant workers also often breach the Labor Standards Law or even the employment contract that they signed with the migrants. In a number of factories, the minimum wage is not given outright but is given with certain conditions. Workers are paid between $NT9, 000 to $NT12, 000 as basic pay and the legal minimum wage would only be completed if they have perfect attendance, good performance and the like. Normally, employers also base the overtime pay on the actual basic wage and not on the legal minimum. Most domestic helpers and caregivers, especially in their first three months of work are not given any days-off. A number of them are only given once or twice a month of days-off.

Overall, why are the conditions of migrant workers and local workers similar on four counts? Employers generally want to maximize their profits even if they are earning billions of NT$. They do these by exploiting workers whether they are locals and migrants.

Knowing that there are possibilities for local and migrant workers to unite to fight for their rights, management tries to break the ties between workers. Filipino workers at Asustek, speak of their experiences that if local workers or even supervisors get too friendly with them, the migrants are transferred to night shift and the supervisors are moved to other departments or branches to avoid any form of solidarity between them.

The four similarities of the working conditions of the local and migrant workers earlier mentioned are all clear examples of labor flexibility measures being imposed by industrialized countries to extract more profit from labor. There is no other way for locals and migrants to go but unite in solidarity to stop exploitation of both sectors. Raising the migrant issue as if it were the main problem for local workers would only work for the interests of employers and would never lead to the advancement of the workers' movement in Taiwan. It would only lead to antagonism among workers and lead to the ugly specter of narrow nationalism instead of internationalism.

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本勞移工團結有基礎

紀‧艾斯特拉達 亞太菲律賓移民組織

許多台灣本地懷疑他們與移工是否有團結的條件。一些本地組織過度簡化的說法更讓這種懷疑加深。這種說法把本地工人的失業和勞動條件的惡化怪到移工頭上，甚至說移工阻礙了本地產業的升級、還帶來了不少社會問題。

本勞移工團結的一個重要基礎在於兩者共同面對的勞動條件的問題。即使移工的工資比本地工人低、工作條件比本地工人惡劣，工人們所面對的問題之類似仍然極為顯著。

在九月29─30日由全產總在高雄召開的勞工國是會議之中，許多本勞移工處境的相似處明顯地浮現出來。本地工人談到彈性勞動、變形工時的出現，指出勞委會鼓勵的短期勞動契約制度正在興起。另外，有人提到加班的問題，在變形工時之下，只要工會書面同意，雇主可以要求工人加班每月96小時，卻不用付加班費。一位台鐵工會的老會員說，他日前申請退休時，雖然已經年資滿25年以上，符合勞基法規定的退休年資，但是資方仍然拿內規作根據，要求他要年滿65歲才能退休。還有人提到許多公司以很低的基本薪資而不是平均薪資來算退休金的問題。

這四個例子之中台灣工人的經驗，許多移工都很熟悉。首先，所有的移工都是兩年一期的契約工，頂多能再延一年。契約結束後他們既沒有資遣費，也沒有退休金。在加班上，許多移工不是領不到加班費，就是領到比勞基法所規定的還少。在台北縣的INFODISK工廠的移工，被資方強迫在休假日加班，只拿到平均每小時約三十元的計件工資。拒絕加班的，第一次會被罰款五百元，第二次就會被遣返。

大部分雇用移工的雇主根不但公然違反勞基法，甚連他們自己和移工簽訂的契約也不遵守。在很多工廠裡，移工人要拿到法定最低工資，就必須要達到雇主訂出的種種條件。有些移工只拿取九千至一萬兩千元的底薪，必須加上全勤、表現優良等各式各樣的津貼才能得到法定最低工資。通常，雇主是依照實際的底薪而不是法定最低工資來給加班費。在休假方面，大部分的幫傭和看護，在來台的頭三個月根本沒有任何的休假。有些則是每個月只有一次或兩次休假。

為什麼移工和外勞的勞動條件如此相似？歸根結底，就是雇主不管自己賺了幾億元，還是要追求最大的利潤。他們的利潤來自剝削工人，不管是移工或本勞。

資本家知道本勞移工可以團結起來爭權益，因此，他們就盡力要分化工人們的感情。在華碩電子工廠的菲律賓移工談到他們的經驗。如果那個本地工人、甚至領班跟他們親近起來的時候，移工就會被調到夜班，領班會被調到其他部門或分廠，以消滅移工和本勞團結的一切可能性。

以上這些例子事實上都是工業國家用來從工人身上榨出更多利潤的所謂「勞動彈性化」的措施。本地工人和移工除了團結一致之外，不可能消滅彼此共同面對的剝削。把移工說成是本地工人問題的源頭，只會便宜了雇主，而不能使台灣的工人運動進步。這會導致工人間的衝突、會召喚出狹隘民族主義的惡靈，而讓人忘了國際主義。

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Important news collection

National Conference on Job Security

The Council for Labor Affairs sponsored the National Conference on Job Security, which lasted from September 14-15. Before the conference got under way, activists at ICLE performed a skit and chanted slogans to express their dissatisfaction with the conference. ICLE said that the government has to pay closer attention to industrial change if it wants to end unemployment, including the transfer of factories abroad, factory closures, and the importation of migrant laborers. ICLE also stated that the government must examine what effect entering the WTO, privatization, and other government policies will have on unemployment. It is not acceptable to reduce the question of job security in Taiwan to issues like occupational training and job assistance.

National Labor Conference

The Promoting Committee for National Confederation of Trade Unions(PCNCTU) held the first National Labor Conference in Kaohsiung on September 29-30, discussing political, economic, and social issues related to labor in Taiwan. A joint statement was issued after the meeting, to serve as a model for the labor policies of presidential candidates. The statement includes a clause regarding migrant labor: "There are only capitalists and workers in this world, and we should work in solidarity with our brothers and sisters to struggle against the ever-increasing power of international capital."

Sincere Thanks to Migrant Friends

The Catholic Hope Center held a church service and donation drive entitled "Love Knows No Borders" on Sept. 27. 700-800 Filipino and Thai workers were in attendance to pray for victims of the earthquake and present their donations. Special donations and material support were given to Aboriginal victims of the quake. The Taiwan Aboriginal Tungchou Association and the Jenai Township Government Office expressed that they were moved by the concern shown by migrant workers for the Aboriginal people of Taiwan, who also occupy the bottom rung of the social ladder in Taiwan. The weather is getting colder in Nantou County, but the sincere show of kindness by migrant workers has brought some warmth, said Aboriginal representatives.

Anniversary Celebrations of the IFUGAO Organization Migrant workers spend their days off in the Taipei Train Station, near the church on Chungshan North Road, or in the 228 park, but workers from IFUGAO Province held a different kind of activity on September 12. The workers celebrated the one year anniversary of the founding of the IFUGAO Organization, complete with traditional dancing, singing, and a raffle drawing. The IFUGAO Organization began as a social organization, but now holds regular meetings and occasionally sponsors workshops to give members a chance to exchange their experiences about working in Taiwan, and share the difficulties of working abroad.

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移住勞工重要新聞選集

■全國就業安全會議

勞委會於9月14、15日舉辦「國家就業安全會議」，遭到勞工團體譏為大拜拜。在開幕前，工委會演出行動劇及大呼口號，以表達對此次會議的不滿。工委會表示，要解決台灣的失業問題，必須正視產業結構變動下所引發的現象，如：產業外移、惡性關廠及外勞引進等；並且有關加入WTO及民營化等整體的政策性問題，必須以跨部會的形式，進行檢討評估。將目前台灣的就業安全問題矮化為職業訓練、就業輔導，是政府避重就輕的狗官心態。
■勞工國是會議

全國產業總工會推動籌備委員會於9月29、30日在高雄市召開「勞工國是會議」，針對與勞工相關的經濟問題、社會制度、政治參與等方面的議題做討論，會後並發佈會議共識，做為檢証明年總統大選各總統候選人所提出的勞工政策的指標。有關移住勞工議題之會議共識如下： 「世界上只有分資本家與工人，我們不應該跟外籍兄弟姊妹不分彼此，唯有團結在一起才能對抗日益強大的國際資本勢力。」

■患難見真情 感謝外勞朋友雪中送炭

天主教希望職工中心於9月27日在中壢舉行「愛心無國界，外勞募款賑災暨祈福大會」，現場聚集了七、八百位泰、菲籍外勞為所有災胞祈福、捐款，並特別強調要對原住民災胞提供援助。台灣原住民同舟協會及仁愛鄉公所表示，看到外籍勞工朋友們基於同為台灣社會的底層勞工、同為台灣社會中的弱勢族群立場，捐出他們的關懷與愛心，在愈漸冷冽的南投災區，原住民因為外勞朋友真誠的雪中送炭而不再感到孤單。

■義富高組織週年慶

每個禮拜天，除了在台北火車站和聖多福堂，228公園通常也聚集了休假的移工。有的兩兩成雙，有的則是一群群席地而坐、野餐聊天。 9月12日，來自菲律賓義富高省的移工，舉辦成立組織一週年的慶祝活動，並且也有來自其他省分的移工一起參與傳統舞蹈、歌唱、摸彩等活動。義富高組織在成立之初以聯誼性質為主，目前則希望透過定期聚會及不定期的工作坊，加深組織成員在台工作的經驗分享，共同分擔在異鄉工作的甘苦。

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Kosova miners locked out by NATO

The biggest company in Kosova is the 'Trepca' company based upon the rich mineral mines in Kosova. Under the constitution of ex- Yugoslavia this company was 'social property'. However all Albanian employees were locked out of their jobs in 1990. Throughout these last years the trade union has tried to protect miners' property and assert the right of miners to return to work. For several years this protest was directed at the Milosevic regime, now they have a new problem: French KFOR (Kosova Force) troops have occupied the mines and metal processing plants and refuse to allow workers' access. Over these years the miners have lost everything that they have created by their work. Their families now have nothing. In the last year 33 members of union have been killed, 11 are missing and many of their houses are destroyed.

Workers were hopeful that after the war, with the end of the violence organised by Milosevic, they would be able to retake control of our mines and factories. They have drawn up plans to resume production, including drawing up a budget to obtain necessary machinery etc, but unfortunately the International Community does not seem to recognize their rights. Even though they have prepared plan to restart production, which would benefit the whole Kosova community, especially the miners, they are prevented by French KFOR troops from entering the mine, even to try to ensure that flooding does not occur. Workers have held meetings with KFOR and UNMIK (United Nations Mission in Kosova) but they cannot get any agreement from them. Therefore on July 27th this year they held a protest demonstration outside the mine with the slogan 'Allow us to work and live from our jobs.'

Despite the protests they remain locked out. So they want to step up protests and for this they are asking for international support and solidarity. They are planning more protests marches and if they are not successful they are prepared, eventually, to start a hunger strike outside the mine gates.

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Q&A

Q:What taxes do migrant workers have to pay, and will they get their taxes refunded to them?

A:Migrant workers must file their taxes for the previous year between February 20-31, but this is usually handled by employers.

Tax rates for foreign workers depends on the amount of time they have spent in Taiwan: The tax rate is 6% for workers who have resided in Taiwan over 183 days during a one-year period.

That is, workers who entered the country on or before July 2 of the previous year qualify for a tax rate of 6%.

The tax rate is 20% for workers who have resided in Taiwan under 183 days. That is, workers who entered the country on or after July 3 of the previous year qualify for a tax rate of 20%. Note: Workers who reside in Taiwan for under 183 days the previous year must begin counting their period of residence beginning on January 1 of the next year. They must still pay a tax rate of 20% for that year until they reside 183 days in that year.

For example, if you arrive in Taiwan on October 1, 1998 and leave on June 1, 1999, you must pay a tax rate of 20% for the 1998 as the total residence time in Taiwan is less than 183 days (31+30+31=92 days); the tax rate for 1999 is also 20% as you will not have resided in Taiwan for more than 183 days (31+28+31+30+31+1=152 days) Refunded taxes can be collected in September of each year.

Q : What is the difference between craft union and industrial union?

A: In Taiwan's trade union law, trade unions are divided into craft unions and industrial unions. Members of craft union are workers of the same craft, such as tailors or carpenters. Industrial unions are composed of workers of each individual workplace: a factory, an office, etc. Members of industrial unions tend to be genuine working class. Yet, since their organizations are confined to each individual workplace, they are not big enough to bargain meaningfully with their employers. Therefore, it's vital for the industrial unions to form federations.

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Q&A

Q：請問移住勞工繳稅與退稅相關問題，到底是怎麼一回事？ A：移住勞工的繳稅與退稅相關事宜，說明如下：

一、 報稅時間：每年的二月二十日至三月三十一日，申報前一年度之所得稅。 註：通常雇主會替移工們辦理。

二、 稅率：

稅率之計算因前一年度在台天數而有所不同：

1.在台183天以上者，適用6％之稅率。
即7月2日以前（含7月2日）入境者，要交薪資的6％為所得稅。

2.在台未超過183天者，適用20％之稅率。
即7月3日以後（含7月3日）入境者，要交薪資的20％為所得稅。

註：未住滿183天者，下一年在台天數需重新計算。若仍未住滿183天，亦須付薪資20％為所得稅。

如：1998年10月1日入境1999年6月1日離境者，1998年因未住滿183天（31+30+31＝92）所以應繳薪資的20％為所得稅；1999年因也沒有住滿183天（31+28+31+30+31+1＝152）所以亦需繳薪資的20％為所得稅。

三、 退稅：每年9月可領到上一年度的退稅額。

[Read More]

A Single Sparkle

Ho Ching Taiwanese critic in U.S.

I would like to congratulate ML on their first issue, and express my sincere hope that the magazine helps to pull the labor movement in Taiwan away from its narrow, national focus. There have been struggles in Taiwan that have pointed towards international solidarity, the correct way in struggling against international capital. We have a great deal to learn in this respect from Filipino workers. Many of the contradictions in Taiwanese society are directly linked to the alliance between global capital, local capitalists and the KMT. If capital is globalizing, can the labor movement afford not to? Don't forget, the struggles in 1988 among the local bus companies were linked to the KMT's transportation policy, and foreign capitalist pressure to export cars to Taiwan. Is the government's policy of "privatization" and entering the WTO not related to foreign efforts to break monopolies in Taiwan? ML provides us with an excellent chance for the labor movement in Taiwan to rethink these issues.

[Read More]

星星之火

何青 旅美評論家

火星有居民，其名曰移住勞工，星火在台灣人的心裡。何青在此恭賀《火星報》創刊，並希望ＭＬ的精神對台灣工運脫出島國心態有正面的影嚮。過去臺灣有些鬥爭的經驗指出國際化的聯合，才是反對國際資本正確的方向。在這方面，菲律賓的工人的鬥爭知識和經驗有很多值得我們學習的地方。目前，台灣的許多社會矛盾歸根究底都離不開國際資本、本地資本和國民黨政權的壟斷利益和權力聯合統治的問題。資本國際化，工人的鬥爭不國際化行嗎﹖大家想一想，1988年開始的基客、桃客、台客．．．等鬥爭和國民黨的大眾運輸政策背後跟國際資本的輸入私人轎車有沒有關係﹖當前所謂「公營企業私有化」的政策和ＷＴＯ（根據台灣沒權參加的「烏拉歸回合談判」）對台灣要求開放壟斷企業沒有關係嗎﹖《火星報》的出現提供給我們對台灣的工運方向和策略一個很好的反省機會。

[Read More]

Pam, Cel, Jo, Pearl, Isme, Susan, Liza ── OFW

Rita Filipino Worker in Taiwan

Tears can not describe

The pain we feel in our hearts

Every time we see

The four corners of a semi-prison

That is Taiwan

What have we done

To suffer like this

Of sins we have not committed

Is this salvation or made by man

By persons without mercy and pity

Is it a sin if we have no money

That forced us to work abroad

Are our sweat and energy not enough

That we channel to our work

For the crumbs that we get in return

Is poverty God sent

This we should ponder

And understand why we live in misery

Struggling hard in the land of foreigners

OFW, our countrymen call us

But those in power ignore us

Whose only interest are our earnings

And we are made into milking cows

May I ask you

Is this just!!!

[Read More]

潘、賽爾、喬、珍珠、依斯瑪、 蘇珊、麗莎： 記海外菲律賓勞工

芮妲 菲籍在台移工

淚水無法訴說心靈的痛楚

每當我們環顧這牢籠似的空間

便知道

這就是台灣

究竟是為了什麼

我們背負著不曾犯的罪

並且因此受苦

難道是為了人世的救贖

抑或是

由於那些心無憐憫的人們所為

我們迫於貧窮而出國工作

難道這就是罪過嗎

在勞動中所流下的血汗

難道不足以換來麵包屑

我們應當思量

貧窮是不是上帝所降下

又為何我們活在悲苦中

在別人的土地上奮鬥

海外菲律賓勞工，同胞如此稱呼我們

然而，當權者總忽略我們所受之苦

把我們當成乳牛一般

只在意我們所掙的一分一毫

讓我請問您

這一切是否正義

[Read More]

Information

*Entering and leaving: The policy for entering or leaving the Sixth Naptha Cracker Plant depends on the management company. Workers are presently given two days off a month. On days off, the management company ships the workers to Taichung or Chiayi for religious services or free activities. Workers are fined NT$6,000-10,000 if they spend the night outside the work area. Entering and leaving the work area is usually allowed after the day's work is completed, but the low wages of the workers means they cannot afford frequent transportation to and from the work site. Most workers remain on the work site to save money.

*Meals are provided by the management company. A canteen is set up for each 1-2 camp, feeding between 700-1,000 people. The meals at the OL-2 camp housing Filipino workers includes a main dish, a soup, and rice. Thai and Indonesian workers at the Haifeng Area share the same canteen.

*Migrant Labor Wages:

Company Nominal Monthly Wages (NT$) Actual Monthly Wage (NT$)

Formosa Plastics

Samsung Construction

CTCI

Chie-lu Engineering

Tampang Cleaning Company

Note: A Singaporean foreman for the Samsung Construction Company said that daily wages for Thai workers of Formosa Plastic is NT$1,200. Formosa Plastic keeps NT$600, and after subtracting for food, lodging, and management fees by Samsung, Thai workers earn NT$550 a day. NT$5,000 a month is taken for forced savings, another NT$5,000 is taken by the broker(for 6 months), leaving workers NT$5,000 a month.

*Lodging for Migrant Workers: Each lodging area for migrant workers is called a camp, and is given a label (Mitsubishi Contractors separate camps by nationality to facilitate management).

Each camp includes between 5-6 buildings, each 5m wide and 20m long, and two bathrooms, each 5m wide and 12m long. Each building is divided into a white and green section. The white sections are air-conditioned, and green sections are not. Only the offices and electrical generating room are air-conditioned.

Some of the green residential areas have been subdivided into smaller rooms, while others remain as a large open room. Subdivided buildings have been divided into 12-14 rooms, each holding 10 people, while undivided buildings can hold up to 200.

The bathroom doubles as an area for washing clothes, but does not have adequate drainage equipment. Dirty water has to be hauled out by hand.

One television is set up in a building in each camp to play videocassettes for the workers.

[Read More]

訊息櫥窗

*移工出入：基本上，移工出入六輕廠區，因各公司管理的不同而異。目前大致每月公休2日。管理單位都會將移工載至台中或嘉義參加天主教會活動或自行活動。在營區外過夜要罰款，6,000---10,000元不等。此外，每日放工後的一般性進出是允許的。但由於移工每月零用金太少，所以大都為節省交通費用（往返需100元）而避免離開營區。

*移工三餐：三餐由管理單位提供。每一或二營設食堂一棟，供700---1000人用餐。菲律賓勞工OL-2營區食堂每餐一菜一湯和白飯。海豐區泰國和印尼勞工混居區，兩營共用一食堂。


*移工工資：各國移工待遇因各公司而有所差異。 如： 公司名 移工月薪（元） 移工實領（元）

台塑 三星建設 中鼎工程（CTCI） 捷祿工程 Tampang清潔公司

註：據一名三星建設新加坡領班表示，三星泰國勞工每天工資1,200元，其中台塑拿走600元，三星扣除食宿及管理費，泰國勞工一日實得550元。薪資中5,000元為強迫儲蓄，5000元交仲介業者（應繳六個月），另外5,000元自用。

*移工住宿：移工宿舍統一以營（Camp）作為單位稱呼，前面冠以單位名稱。（三星建設宿舍還會冠以住宿移工國籍，以利區別）

一營有宿舍5至6棟；每棟寬5公尺，長20公尺；盥洗間兩棟，每棟寬5公尺，長12公尺。

區內宿舍分成白、綠兩系；白系有空調系統，綠系則無；綠系除宿舍外，還包括辦公地點和發電組（辦公地點和發電組皆有空調）。 綠系宿舍分隔間與通舖兩種；隔間者，一棟分成12---14間不等；每間10人，每棟120---140人；通舖者，容納200人。

盥洗間充作浴室、洗衣室和廁所；無管路排水肥，肥水用抽取式。

一個營區有一棟宿舍備有電視，供移工觀賞錄影帶之用。

[Read More]

About the Conflict at Mailiao

Tang Shu Labor Rights Association

The site for the Sixth Naptha Cracker Plant in Mailiao, Yunlin County is almost completely separated from the township surrounding it. Migrant workers have to take buses out of the plant to get where they want to go. Few people visit the site, but conflicts between workers on August 25 and again on September 5 brought the area to the media's attention.

There was a number of reactions to the conflict at the plant. Formosa Plastics, the employer, blamed the Korean labor management company, but the company claimed they had done all they were supposed to do, and said that perhaps if the number of translators was increased to 1:50 workers from 1:200 workers, things would improve. Other "experience" companies said that workers of different nationalities should not be put together, and workers should not be allowed to drink under any circumstances. The Council for Labor Affairs stressed that the three Filipino workers who had caused the problems had already been sent home, and the CLA had set a cap on the number and length of stay of workers imported by Formosa Plastics. The CLA also announced that they had fined the Korean management company and labor brokers involved between NT$3,000-30,000 for violating the Service Act. The labor brokers were also forced to shut down their operations, and hand in their licenses. Local residents were concerned about the conflict. They were also angry about the host of promises broken by Formosa Plastic, and declared they were out to "put an end" to the business.

Of course, the actual problem still needs to be looked at more carefully. The news reports and opinions are reactions to the problem after it exploded, and overlook key issues. First, Formosa Plastics is the company that imported the laborers, and is responsible for them. The company should not try to shift responsibility to other companies. It's too late to bring up points now like bad communication with the Korean labor management company, increasing the number of translators, prohibiting the workers from drinking alcohol, etc. Increasing the number of translators would not improve the poor working conditions or lengthen break time. Regardless of whether a single nationality of worker or several work together, if work stress is high, then conflict will erupt. Moreover, in most cases migrant laborers in Taiwan work with local workers, as most companies are limited to importing 18% of their work force from abroad (lowered from 24% six months ago), unlike large investment projects, which do not need to follow these limits. Yet similar problems have not arisen between local and foreign workers! Drinking is common to people throughout the world (other than many Indonesian workers,cause of the conflict was not that the workers drink, and instead we should ask why they wanted to drink? Perhaps just to relieve pressure? Then what is the reason for the conflict?

The CLA's policies are little more than afterthoughts, and make an error of principle. Everyone knows that sending workers home will not solve the problem. The CLA said they will carry out inspections of all companies that employ more than 200 migrant labors between now and December, and will cap importation limits of those companies found in violation. The CLA will also inspect a number of the smaller companies, randomly chosen. This is too late. Most of companies in Taiwan are small-medium enterprises, with less than 200 employees total. Many violators are bound to slip through the CLA's grasp. Moreover, the fines imposed by the CLA are too light, and will not prevent companies or brokers from continuing to violate the law. Finally, there are not enough labor inspectors in Taiwan, and migrant workers are trapped by their contract with their employers. Since there is no other way to resolve the problems, conflict erupt. The media in Taiwan has recently focused on blue collar workers in industry, but has overlooked migrant domestic workers and healthcare workers, who are often heavily exploited, without protection, but also removed from view.

Of course the culture, language, lifestyle, etc., of peoples around the world are all different, but this is not the main reason for the conflict between migrant workers in Taiwan. If this were the case, how would we explain the peaceful coexistence of migrant and local workers? Difference may create friction during work, but this will not necessarily expand to a conflict between thousands of workers. In the latest conflict in Mailiao, Thai workers requested that the company improve their living conditions and work environment. We should look at this request more carefully.

The reaction of nearby residents is understandable. The area is a fishing community in slow decline. The residents were hoping that the industrial park near their home would bring them prosperity, but all it brought was pollution, a host of broken promises, and conflicts between migrant workers. Their sense of unease is now a shared feeling among most people in Taiwan, but migrant workers should not be used as a scapegoat.

[Read More]

關於麥寮移工衝突事件

唐曙 勞動人權協會

雲林麥寮的六輕工業區是一個幾乎與世隔絕的地區，在這裡打工的移住勞工們放假都還要專車接送往返。原本應該是一個少人聞問的地方才對。但是由於今年8月25日和9月5日兩次大規模的移住勞工衝突，使得新興工業區的移住勞工問題又浮上了檯面。

在這衝突事件發生以後，各界的反應大概有幾個方向。雇主台塑認為是由於包商三星公司管理不當，三星公司則強調該做的都已經做了，也許應該調整翻譯(管理) 人員的配置，每200人設置一名翻譯改為50人一名翻譯。一些「有管理經驗」的企業則強調不應混合僱用，應只僱用一國移住勞工，並強調一定不可讓這些工人喝酒。勞委會則強調滋事三名菲勞已遣返，要凍結台塑的移工配額及其延展，三星公司及相關仲介業者若有委任管理的過失，其仲介業者將可依就業服務法罰 3000到30000元，必要的時候還可以停止其業務，撤銷其營業許可。麥寮的當地居民則對於這種衝突表現出不安，再加上幾年來六輕開發支出所答應回饋地方的支票一一跳票，居民的情緒顯得非常激動，並揚言要把事業單位「打死」。

當然，問題的癥結有待進一步詳細的調查才能確定，現有的報導和各界的看法都也只能針對現在浮出檯面的問題做的回應，但這些回應要不是避重就輕，就是模糊了焦點。台塑作為移工的申請事業單位自當負起責任，推諉是不對的。三星公司那種溝通不良的提法和僱用一國勞工、禁止喝酒等作法根本就是倒果為因。再多的翻譯人員也解決不了惡劣的勞動條件現實和休息時間有限的苦悶。由於過重的工作壓力，不要說不同國籍移工間的衝突，就算是同國籍的移工間也會發生衝突，這種案例很多，所謂僱用一國移工就沒有衝突的說法並不實際。更何況，除了這些重大投資項目可專案特權直接引進移工而不必受比例限制外，一般引進移工的事業單位還是要按勞委會規定的比例申請(五月前是24%，現在則降低到18%)配額，所以還是有本勞和移工的相處問題，但也沒有釀成大規模而又激烈的衝突啊﹗至於喝酒，那是一種全世界性的文化(更何況大部分的印尼勞工還是回教徒，回教是禁止喝酒的)，移工喝酒後會鬧事不是因為喝酒，我們該問的是為什麼會喝酒？只是因為情緒失控？那失控的原因呢？

至於勞委會的對策只能是亡羊補牢式的，或者我們應該說勞委會在移工政策上就犯了原則性的錯誤。遣返不能解決問題，大家都知道，這是做給勞委會自己看的。勞委會主委詹火生說要從即日起到十二月間，針對僱用移工200人以上的企業進行勞動檢查，有違規者將凍結齊移工配額和延展，200人以下企業則採重點抽查方式。這種做法為時豈只是晚，根本就來不及了。台灣絕大部分企業仍屬中小企業，總聘僱人數不足200人者多的是，這種重點抽查的做法根本是挂一漏萬，徒具形式而已。再則就業服務法中的相關違法罰責太輕，根本無力嚇阻雇主及仲介業者，再加上政府勞動檢查的人員嚴重不足，移工礙於雇主的契約箝制願意透露售剝削情形的人少之又少，如何能有效解決？最後只能以衝突的形式表現出來。此外，近年來台灣談到這個問題時，都集中在產業界的藍領移工，對於被剝削的更嚴重、能見度更低、受法令保障更少、不得不忍氣吞聲的幫傭、監護工，則更是一個長期忽略的問題。

我們相信各民族之間都有文化差異和不同的生活習慣甚至手勢，但這絕不是移工衝突的主因，要不然我們如何解釋本勞和移工間的相處。由於有差異，在一起工作的過程中一定有因誤解產生的摩擦，但摩擦並不見得就會擴大成幾千人的衝突。在這次的衝突中，泰國的移工就提出訴求，要求資方應改善工作環境與條件，也許這才是值得密切注意的一點。

至於麥寮社區居民的反彈是可以理解的，一個逐漸沒落的漁村，本來指望新興工業區能繁榮地方，但換來的只是污染、徒具形式的「回饋」和對移工的不解和不安，這種不解和不安已經變成台灣絕大部分人民在生活中的共同情緒，這又豈是只拿移工當代罪羔羊就能轉移的呢？

[Read More]

Migrant workers are not scapegoats!

Lorna Kung Hope Worker's Center

The dispute between Thai and Filipino laborers was the largest conflict among migrant labors in the history of labor importation in Taiwan. The "collective conflict" was the result of long-term suppression! The conflict did not arise from racial conflicts between the two groups of workers, but was caused by work pressures, high-stress management, as well as by the company's decision to use Filipino workers as foremen for Thai workers. The conflict thus has class and not racial roots.

As members of a more developed country, we should be grateful to each worker. We do not deny the work that migrant workers have done, work that has built up Taiwan's infrastructure, allowed Taiwan's economy to continue to grow, and led to high consumption rates in some areas. We should not forget this because the workers involved are migrant workers, from less economically developed Southeast Asian nations. Yet migrant workers, because of language and cultural differences, and the combined oppression of labor brokers and an exploitative working system, are unable to stand up and speak their peace in Taiwanese society. This is the beginning of their nightmare as a structurally weak group in Taiwan.

Migrant labors have been used as scapegoats in a number of recent events! When discussions over flight links between Taiwan and the Philippines were still going on, the Council for Labor Affairs began to use Filipino migrant laborers as a bargaining chip when the government of the Philippines belittled Taiwan's representatives. The government made scapegoats out of Filipino migrant workers in Taiwan to support their own nationalism! The government has continued to import foreign workers into Taiwan regardless of the high unemployment here, leading to complaints from local workers and aboriginal peoples that migrant workers have taken their jobs. The CLA, and capitalists, who have profited from the importation of migrant labor, continue to import cheap labor, turning the migrant workers in scapegoats for their immoral labor policy! The fighting among migrant workers at Formosa Plastics led society to link the importation of migrant workers with an instability and a lack of security, but overlooked the improper management, substandard living conditions, and horrendous working conditions that are the real causes of the event. The media's simplistic portrayal of the migrant laborers as a ticking time bomb was yet another way of scapegoating the migrant laborers.

With brokers' fees reaching as high as NT$150-200 thousand, low wages and poor working conditions, immoral employers and brokers, all kinds of company restrictions and repatriation for the small infraction, if the working conditions of migrant workers in Taiwan does not improve, it will bring down the overall working conditions in Taiwan! If we continue to misunderstand and stigmatize migrant workers, we will only be working in the service of capitalists and the state.

[Read More]

移住勞工不是代罪羔羊！

龔尤倩 希望職工中心

台灣引進移住勞工以來，最大的一次移工衝突──台塑麥寮廠菲籍／泰籍勞工集體鬥毆事件。然而任何「集體衝突」絕對是長期壓力下的爆發！這並非單純只是菲泰之間種族對立的論調，生活空間的壓迫、高壓的管理、引用「菲籍工頭」作為管理的工具所造成之宿怨。這背後反應的是階級問題而非種族問題。

首先，對每一個勞動者的付出，作為一個進步國家我們必須要感恩的！因此，我們絕不能否認移住勞工的勞動付出，確實成就了我們的公共建設、成就了台灣的經濟持續發展、並造就了部份地區的民生消費。這些絕不能因為他們是移住勞工、尤其是來自東南亞經濟落後的國家而被抹滅！但是在異國語言、文化差異衝擊下，在仲介／勞動體制結合的壓迫之下，他們很少能夠真正地站出來對台灣社會說話，這是也使他們成為結構性弱勢惡夢的開始……

我們可以回想幾個事件的發生，移住勞工無獨有偶的，都被當作「代罪羔羊」！中菲航權正吵得如火如突時，因為菲國處理台灣名銜有矮化我方的情況，勞委會祭之以凍結菲勞作為籌碼！政治較量之下，在台菲外籍勞工成了大國族主義下的「代罪羔羊」！在失業率高漲之下，政府仍持續開放外勞配額，使得本地勞工／原住民勞工紛紛抱怨移住勞工搶了飯碗，主管勞工事務的勞委會與得了便宜的資本家仍繼續引進廉價移工，使得移住勞工成了不當勞動政策的「代罪羔羊」！在台塑菲泰勞工鬥毆事件傳出，社會再將移住勞工引進與社會治安敗壞劃上等號，卻忽略不當的高壓管理、欠缺人性化的生活設施、惡劣的勞動環境才是真正主因，媒體簡單以「外勞是火藥庫」來詮釋，移住勞工再度成為「代罪羔羊」！

高達15~20萬高額的仲介費負債、廉價又低劣的勞動條件、不肖雇主與仲介聯合的高壓管理、各種公司懲戒及動轍遣返的方式等，再再發生在移住勞工的勞動現場與生活壓力之中，最底層的外籍勞工的勞動條件若得不到提昇，台灣整體的勞動條件都將因而下降！我們如果只是一味地汙名化、誤解移住勞工！不但違反真相，更便宜了佔盡便宜的資本家與國家機器。

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Aborigines empathize with foreign laborers

Author Ta Ya is the secretary-general of the Taiwan Aboriginal Labor Coalition.

Amid the shock at seeing scenes of foreign laborers attacking each other with sticks and bats, it finally hit some of us that foreign workers have snatched away the livelihood of many Aborigines in Taiwan.

Realizing that one of the social costs of importing foreign laborers is rampant unemployment among Aborigines, people are now concerned about the difficulties facing the large number of unemployed Aborigines. However, we, the Aboriginal community, do not feel the slightest joy at these sudden and unexpected demonstrations of concern.

In the past, the country's labor policy betrayed the Aboriginal workers because their wages were higher than those of foreign laborers. Mainstream public opinion today demonstrates the same short-sighted logic: Government officials and business management chip away at working conditions as much as possible, even if these conditions are essentially inhumane. Now the unemployment of Aborigines is used as a phony justification for failing to acknowledge the abuse of foreign laborers.

As much as we suffer over our unemployment, we feel even more deeply for the generally terrible working conditions facing foreign laborers and their pains from working overtime, as well as from mental depression, physical exhaustion and racial discrimination.

Taiwan must give serious thought to improving working conditions to raise the overall productivity and competitiveness of our economy. If it is unable to do so and, instead, continues to lower costs by exploiting regional differences in wages and human right conditions, then Aboriginal workers will forever remain mere pawns to be repeatedly appeased, then sold out.

Taiwan's labor policy has never considered the Aborigines as a community that should be evaluated independently. Therefore, it has not been able to effectively integrate the Aboriginal labor community into the general labor community. Aboriginal workers thus have been rewarded with the indignity of massive unemployment.

We want to communicate the following message to Taiwanese society: Taiwan, in its pursuit of an identity and role in the global economic structure, must draft a comprehensive blueprint for the Aboriginal work force and their living environment in order to raise the country's economic competitiveness.

To foreign laborers, we want to say that although you have been used to take away our livelihood, we still vow to protect your fundamental rights as laborers.

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原住民族勞工對外勞暴動事件的回應

打訝 台灣原住民族勞工聯盟秘書長

外籍勞工集體衝突的事件，透過新聞媒體中棍棒齊飛、血跡斑斑的畫面，引起社會上極大的震撼。終於有人想到外勞搶了原住民族勞工的飯碗，想到把原住民族勞工失業視為大量引進外勞所付出的社會成本的一部份；終於也有人關注起原住民族勞工大量失業的困境，談論起引進外勞對原住民族社會的傷害，但是面對這些突如其來的關注和談論，我們真的一點也快樂不起來。

回顧原住民族勞工因為工資比外勞高而被國家勞動政策出賣的歷史，今天的主流議論所欲呈現的，是同樣的短視邏輯：「能把勞動條件押到越低、越沒人性，越是執政者和資方的最愛」。昨日因為工資因素把原住民族勞工出賣，今日則拿原住民族勞工失業，作為不願去面對外籍勞工勞動人權問題的一道偽善的擋箭牌。

我們當然深受失業的痛苦，但我們更深深經歷過一個勞動者在惡劣的工作環境下，超時趕工、體力透支、精神苦悶、又飽受種族歧視的悲哀！如果，台灣社會不能認真思考，以提高勞動者的工作條件、工作安全與工作尊嚴，來提升整體的生產力和競爭力，卻飲鴆止渴的不斷利用區域的工資價差和人權價差，來壓低成本，那麼，原住民族勞工，永遠是國家在求取短線獲利和爭取社會支持的擺盪過程中，一顆不斷被拉攏再出賣的棋子，同時政府應該為國家一組成民族之勞動政策作整體特殊考量和規劃的責任，也將被刻意挑撥原住民族勞工和外勞之間的種族仇恨所取代。

過去，台灣的勞動政策之中，未曾把原住民族視為一個應被獨立考量的單位，因此不僅無法有效整合原住民族特殊的勞動模式和勞動區域中的人力和自然資源，更讓原住民族勞工在毫無勞動人權可言的狀態下被剝削了五十年後，進一步陷入大量失業的困境，從政策精神的錯亂到政策方向的模糊、行政措施和法令設計的無能，我們明白外勞本身只是整個政府一連串錯誤下的犧牲品，對於台灣社會我們要說：請正視台灣在尋求全球經濟架構下的角色定位，就必須將原住民族勞動人口、生活區域做一整體規劃以提升國家競爭力的議題，對於整個暴動事件中的外籍勞工我們要說：雖然你被用來搶了我的飯碗，但我仍誓言維護你作為一個勞動者應有的基本權利！

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The Disaster Continues...

Ching-Ju Wu WOW

We arrived in Puli in the early morning hours of September 22, visiting police departments in the area to check up on reports of theft by migrant workers. There were burglaries reported, and the police were busy trying to stop the rumors from spreading. A aboriginal police officer told us, "It's all been caused by the media, there's been no burglary here. Luckily for us there are migrant workers, otherwise the media might have blamed aboriginals for some crime!" Those without power are always used as scapegoats.

We continued our trek onto Tsaotun to find out if there were any workers in need of help because of collapsed factories. Police at the Tsaotun station told us, "There's been no reports of any damage in the Nankang Industrial Park, but the damage at the Lungli Textile plant is very serious." After getting an address, we took off for the plant.

Driving up to the plant, we passed a uphill section of road seriously damaged by the quake. Groups of women workers from the plant were coming down the hill carrying lots of things in their hands. We discovered that they were Thai workers who were to be returned home on that day. A total of 21 were workers were slated to go home. Just as we were about to ask some questions to find out the reason the women were being returned home, a man who looked to be a manager yelled out, "Who are you? What are you doing here? ... Get out of here!" The Thai women passed us by, one of them with tears in her eyes.

We hung around the area for a while, and the man eventually told us that there were a total of 56 workers in the plant, all of whom were Thai and women. Why were they being sent home? "Our plant is just about destroyed, and no one has even come out to look at it. I asked the workers to come into the plant yesterday to help out, but they wouldn't, saying they were afraid! They don't have any sympathy at all. The plant foremen had to help up, how come they weren't afraid? Those workers are no use to us anymore." Even Taiwanese, used to earthquakes, were scared out of their wits by September's tremor, how can you expect workers from Thailand not to be afraid?

We returned to Taipei with heavy hearts.

On September 27, the Central News Agency ran a report saying, "The unemployment rate remains high in Thailand, and the government advises that Thai workers living in Taiwan remain there as 'advance foreign exchange soldiers. Labor brokers also threaten Thai workers with high fees if they want to return home, forcing them to stay Taiwan."

I thought of a song-

"The orphan of Asia cries as the wind blows,

no one wishes to play a fair game with him,

but all want his favorite toy.

Why are you crying, little boy?"

The disaster continues...

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震災持續中……

吳靜如 女媧工作室

9月22日凌晨到達埔里，我們到當地的各個警察單位瞭解那些被指為「搶劫」的移工狀況。非但沒這回事，警察先生們也正疲於奔命於向各方對此的詢問做說明。一位在地的原住民警察先生說：「都是那些媒體在謠傳，根本沒有的事。不過，還好現在有這些外勞，否則現在被傳說在殺人放火的可能就是我們原住民了！」—— 唉！是呀，弱勢者一直容易成為代罪羔羊！

繼續往下走到了草屯，我們想瞭解是否有因為工廠倒塌而需要幫助的勞工。草屯分局的警員們告訴我們：「南崗工業區目前沒傳來什麼災情，不過隆立紡織的毀損情形蠻嚴重的…」問了住址，我們趕去現場。

在面對大門口一條損壞情況嚴重的上坡道，一群女性移工大包小包、三兩成群、面色凝重地走下來。我們迎上前打招呼之後才知道她們是今天將被遣返的泰國移工，一共21人。正想問一下原因，一位看似管理階層的先生，從遠處怒斥著：「你們是什麼人？來這邊幹嘛？想做什麼？……妳們走快點，講什麼話！走！走！走！」另外幾個年輕的泰國女生隨後下來，其中一個擦著眼淚……

我們死皮賴臉地留了一陣子，才從其口中探知，隆立紡織一共有56位移工，都是泰國人，幾乎全為女性。為什麼要遣返她們？「說什麼支援，我們工廠毀損的這麼嚴重，到現在也沒半個外界的人來……昨天要她們進廠幫一下忙，就各個推說會怕，一點同情心都沒有。我們這些主管都下去幫忙了，我們怎麼就不會怕！…連同情心都沒有，留下來幹嘛！」——先生！這山崩地裂的大地震，連震習慣了的台灣人都膽顫心驚。您知道泰國從來沒有地震的嗎？！

心情沈重地回到台北。

9月27日中央社的報導：「目前泰國政府面對國內失業率上漲危境，只有鼓勵泰勞留守台灣繼續做泰國‘外匯尖兵’，不管泰勞心理上是否接受，尤其是仲介公司更是擔憂泰勞返國後的鉅額賠償負擔，強迫泰勞留台工作。」

心裡響起一首歌——

「…亞細亞的孤兒在風中哭泣

沒有人要和你玩平等的遊戲

每個人都想要你心愛的玩具

親愛的孩子你為何哭泣…」

震災，其實一直持續……

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From the Working Class, to Private Enterprises

It has been reported that the government is planning to misuse the Employment Stabilization Fund to provide earthquake relief money.

Professor Chen Hsin-hsing of Shih-hsin University stated that the government has mostly provided loans to victims of the earthquake. Yet the government has given low-interest loans to companies in quake-stricken areas to convince them to remain. The Employment Stabilization Fund represents the unemployment of a large number of local workers and high exploitation of migrant workers. By giving loans to employers from this fund, it is just another example of "taking from the workers, giving to the bosses," heightening the tensions between employees outside the quake areas and victims of the quake.

	Destroyed	Damaged
Nantou	40	140
Taichung	91	130
Changhua	16	45

Source: Chen Shen-hsien, Director of Labor Relations Office, CLA

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取之於勞動人民 用之於民間企業

據報導，政府將挪用就業安定基金作為震災的補助。

世新大學社會發展研究所陳信行老師表示，政府在災後大多數的補助政策皆是貸款。而為了讓企業根留當地，更是提供低利貸款予企業主。「就業安定基金」其實背後代表了多少本地勞工的失業和多少移住勞工被廉價的剝削。現將這些因勞工們的犧牲所換得的錢用以資助企業主，實是「取之於勞動人民，用之於民間企業」的行為。更造成了非災區受薪階級與災區居民之間的矛盾。

■中部災區工廠災情

	全倒	半倒
南投	40家	140家
台中	91家	130家
彰化	16家	45家

資料來源：勞委會勞資關係處 陳伸賢處長

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