Taiwan Hospitality Sector Welcomes First Indonesian Skilled Workers
Thirty-five Indonesian nationals arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday to begin roles with Regent Taipei, part of a government initiative to address labour shortfalls.
First arrivals under new scheme
Taiwan's hospitality sector officially welcomed its first cohort of foreign skilled workers yesterday, 14 September 2026. A group of 35 Indonesian nationals arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, recruited by Regent Taipei.
Their arrival marks the operational launch of the Cross-border Workforce Enhancement Program, a government initiative introduced in January this year. This programme aims to alleviate significant labour shortages within Taiwan's hotel industry by enabling businesses to recruit skilled overseas personnel.
Cross-Border Workforce Recruitment Center Deputy Director Huang Wei-cheng noted that these new skilled workers differ from general migrant workers, requiring specific technical skills, educational qualifications, and language proficiency for their roles.
Worker qualifications and industry needs
The initial group of Indonesian workers, predominantly in their twenties, brings prior experience, having completed at least a year of internships in Taiwan. They are now required to achieve at least A2-level Mandarin speaking or listening proficiency within three years of commencing their employment.
According to figures from Taiwan's Tourism Administration, cited by Mr. Huang, the nation's hospitality sector faces an annual deficit of approximately 6,000 workers.
Regent Taipei's human resources group director, Jason Feng, confirmed that the arriving employees would primarily return to departments where they previously interned, such as food and beverage and housekeeping, transitioning from interns to full-time staff.
Recruitment process and future supply
Regent Taipei had initially secured approval to hire 37 Indonesian workers, though two did not meet medical examination requirements and are expected to arrive with a subsequent group.
Arif Sulistiyo, Representative of the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei (IETO), highlighted the significance of Indonesian workers being the first beneficiaries of Taiwan's decision to open its hospitality sector to foreign skilled labour.
Mr. Sulistiyo affirmed Indonesia's readiness to supply additional experienced workers, adding that the IETO has already received and is verifying "several job orders" from other hotels across Taiwan. He also stated that the programme incurs "zero cost" for Indonesian workers, with employers covering recruitment-related expenses.
Programme mechanics and industry outlook
Under the Cross-border Workforce Enhancement Program, hotels can qualify for foreign skilled worker quotas by increasing the wages of their lowest-paid full-time Taiwanese staff by at least NT$2,000. For each eligible Taiwanese employee receiving this pay rise, a hotel can recruit one foreign skilled worker, capped at 10 percent of their total workforce.
As of the end of August, more than 60 hospitality businesses had applied for domestic recruitment processes, leading to recruitment certificates for over 600 worker shortfalls.
This figure represents staffing needs identified through local recruitment efforts, rather than confirmed foreign hires, as employers must still obtain eligibility certification tied to local wage increases. This scheme aims to balance addressing labour shortages with supporting local employment conditions.
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