Applying as Factory Worker in Taiwan; A complete Guide

Taiwan is one of the most vibrant democracies in Asia. This young democracy began its battle for genuine reform in the 1980s, and from there, Taiwan pursued its first-ever presidential election, which was held only in 1996. Today, Taiwan is one of the few fast-growing economies in the world; the country has experienced continuous economic growth in the past five years, according to Heritage.org

With continuous economic growth, including tech manufacturing, Taiwan is one of the countries that imports skilled manufacturing workers from the Philippines. With an attractive salary of NT25,000, equivalent to Php45,000, many Filipinos are leaving the Philippines for better opportunities in Taiwan. 

In this article, 'Factory Workers: A Complete Guide,' I will only discuss specifically skilled factory workers to give you some knowledge and a set of expectations for applying to Taiwan so you can plan ahead and organize your thoughts step-by-step. 

The requirements

Make sure to complete your requirements ahead before applying because all agencies require a first look at your requirements in an initial assessment, at least those most important documents such as: 

1. Passport
2. UMID or UMID Certificate
3. Birth Certificate (PSA)
4. Voters Certification
5. PEOS Certificate
6. E-Registration
7. TIN ID
8. Transcript of Record (TOR)
9. Diploma
10. Yellow card (BOQ)
11. VaxCertPh
12. NBI Clearance
13. 2x2 white background picture  

The requirements that are allowed to be followed are:

1. SSS Members Details
2. SSS Employment History
3. Any other two valid IDs
4. Certificate of Employment from past work
5. Pag-Ibig Number

Where to apply for a legitimate agency?

A list of legitimate agencies can be found on the POEA website, including MIP, Everbest, Eyequest, Jedegal, and Mission Way. You must have the knowledge to fact-check the legitimacy of the agency. On the POEA website, they have an agency locator for you to be able to check if the agency is registered with the Philippines government, also you will be able to see the exact address, contact number, and the website of the agency. Another helpful idea is to join a Facebook group called 'Taiwan Applicants,' where you can interact with people who are aspiring factory workers and those who are group members who are already working in Taiwan.

What to expect in an exam?

They will also check your height, weight, body tattoo, and initial requirements. They will conduct an initial physical test, Ishihara test (color blind test), and speed test before or after the paper and pen examination. The exam will consist of math, logical reasoning, and a speed test. Please bear in mind the PEMDAS or MDAS rule in a mathematical exam. Only a few applicants will pass the exam, so study what is mentioned above; your target score must be around 97% to 100%. 

What to Expect in a Final Interview?

If you pass the exam, they will schedule an interview, which could be face-to-face, through Zoom or Skype. In an interview, you must wear a white T-shirt, long pants, and rubber shoes. The interview will only last 5 to 10 minutes; this short interview is your best shot to impress the interviewee. Don't be overconfident, but at least prepare and ensure your internet connection is working correctly, like your audio device.

The interview is in English or Taiwanese translated into English, so expect the interviewer to have a Taiwanese accent. I suggest listening carefully and answering simply and straightforwardly.

Prepare a brief introduction, including your work experience and role in that company. An interviewer may ask you anything related to your work ethic and your willingness to work in their company, such as:

1. Are you willing to work on a night shift schedule?
2. How much salary are you receiving monthly in your present work?
3. Why is Taiwan your prepared country to work in?

      

The expectations and cost of medical examination  

After passing an interview, the next step is to have your medical examination; the medical test will cost you around 6,000 to 8,000, not including any findings you need to fix to be fit to work. Those fixable findings add another cost to your medical expenses, such as corrections of eyeglasses; if you have worn eyeglasses before, wear them in your optical exam to avoid another correction. Other findings that may add costs are repeat laboratory tests, repeat x-ray tests, and dental care such as cleaning and dental pasta/filling. 

The medical exam covers the seven departments or stations in the clinic; here are the following:

1. Laboratory test - Pulse rate and blood for Blood typing RH Factor, CBC, HBsAg, HIV Screening, Urinalysis, Stool concentration, TPHA, VDRL/RPR. 
2. Imaging - Chest X-Ray. 
3. Nurse Station - Medical History. 
4. Physical examination - whole body, including private parts examined. 
5. Optical - Color vision test and visual acuity. 
6. Dental - Dental Check-up. 
7. Psychology - Psychometric evaluation. 
8. Vaccination - MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella combination vaccine)

The signing of the contract

Once you have completed the previous processes, you will sign a contract. All of your documents must be complete to avoid any problems processing your working visa. Before signing the contract, you should carefully read it, mainly the employer address, contract duration in years, basic pay, overtime pay, charges, and other deductions, and the exact amount of the placement fee. According to the law, it must only be one month of your basic salary in Taiwan. 

Read and understand the essential information in the contract before signing, and don't hesitate to ask if you need some clarification. You will be singing with a thumb mark the minimum of 10 pages (times 4) and a general information sheet with your reference and background information, schools and work you attended, and the list of names and birthdates of your family members.

Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS)

After signing the contract, you will be attending a seminar for the PDOS, which stands for a pre-departure orientation seminar; basically, this is an orientation about what the does and doesn't in Tawan, Cultural background, Attestation, and the orientation of the rules of OWWA to the OFW. 

Taiwan Economic Cultural Office Appearance (TECO)

The TECO is located at 41 Floor Tower 1 RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave, Makati, 1200 Metro Manila. At this stage, your agency will accompany you to the Taiwan Economic Cultural Office, the acting embassy of Taiwan in the Philippines. Technically, Taiwan doesn't have an embassy in the Philippines, and the Philippines doesn't have an embassy in Taiwan. Still, the Philippines has an office called MECO, which stands for Manila Economic Cultural Office, which serves as a Philippine embassy in Taiwan.

You will be appearing in the TECO for your working visa application; the process is simple and plain; the attendant who processes your visa application will only ask you if you are the person in the picture he/she's holding, and you will only respond to the question if the photo is you. After that, they will get a fingerprint from both hands, and it's done.

Pre-Departure Medical Tests 

Pre-departure medical tests are required before quarantine, which is 7 days. Please remember that you must bring your own stool to avoid difficulty extracting it at the clinic. The following are the tests to be conducted: 

1. Drug tests
2. Urine tests
3. HEPA tests
4. X-ray tests
5. Pregnancy test - for ladies only

Don't say it is done until it's done." Please know that anything can happen, and you must prepare for it. The fight might be canceled, and your contract might be terminated. You just need to be ready emotionally and financially. 

Youu must pay your agency at least half of the placement fe upon or before the TECO's appearance:, half of the 45,00,0, which means around 20,000 to 22,000. After the TECO appearance, the agency will inform you of your tentative flight schedule. You and your agency should communicate openly to clarify the deployment further.