Cases of contract substitution —though not widespread — continue to surface in Taiwan after two Filipina migrant workers sought government assistance after they were deployed to factory jobs despite having contracts for caretaker positions.

On Tuesday, 4 November, Fr. Joy Tajonera reported on DAILY TRIBUNE’s digital program Usapang OFW that the women each paid more than P50,000 in placement fees to secure legal employment, only to end up in work not stated in their contracts.

According to Tajonera, the two arrived in Taiwan and believed their situation was normal. Both were assigned multiple tasks — from factory shifts to cleaning and farm work — working up to 12 hours a day while being paid the salary of a caretaker.

“They work as factory workers, but their salary is only NT$20,000. On top of that, they don’t have overtime pay,” Tajonera said.

The women’s pay was classified under the caretaker rate of NT$20,000, instead of the NT$28,590 standard wage for factory workers.

After contacting Taiwan’s Migrant Workers Office, the two were advised to seek help from the Ugnayan Migrant Ministry of Fr. Tajonera, where they are currently staying.

Tajonera raised an alarm over the case and urged the Department of Migrant Workers to take action, stressing that overseas Filipino workers in similar situations are “at a big disadvantage.”

He said both the Philippine recruitment agency and its Taiwanese counterpart should refund the placement fees collected from the two women. He added that one of the agencies even told the workers they should be “thankful” for being sent abroad.

“If they pay P50,000-plus to come to Taiwan and the work is illegal, they should be refunded — no question about it,” he said.

Tajonera said the two OFWs are filing a case with Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor.

“We will do our best. Number one, they should get the overtime and the salary they deserve so that they don’t get cheated,” he said.

He emphasized that the workers are victims, not offenders.

“For sure, these two OFWs did not violate the law. They are the ones being violated. They are the ones being used,” Tajonera said.