There are more than 750,000 international migrant workers in Taiwan, who play a crucial role in the country's lower-tier industries and caregiving sector, making them an integral part of Taiwanese society. COAPRE's (hereinafter referred to as the center) multilingual “Occupational Accident Guardian” app was officially launched before International Migrants Day on December 18. Besides traditional Chinese and English, the app is also available in Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Thai to keep migrant workers updated on the latest occupational safety information and provide them with occupational accident-related assistance, in turn allowing them to settle and work in Taiwan with peace of mind.

Impacted by the declining birth rate, there are severe labor shortages worldwide, and Taiwan also relies on migrant workers for productivity. Since the introduction of migrant workers in 1989, the Ministry of Labor's statistics indicate that the total number of migrant workers has surpassed 750,000 after 34 years of growth, constituting about 3% of Taiwan's total population. Originally serving as supplementary labor, migrant workers have now transitioned to substitute labor in Taiwan's industries and social welfare sectors, making them an important workforce for the country’s economic development.

Ensuring that migrant workers have "stable employment, secure workplaces, and safe labor conditions" is the Ministry of Labor’s commitment, allowing them to contribute to the stability of Taiwanese society and economic development. Promulgated on May 1, 2022, the “Labor Occupational Accident Insurance and Protection Act” included migrant workers and foreign fishermen as compulsory beneficiaries of occupational accident insurance. Furthermore, the center has also implemented multilingual interface services for the "Occupational Accident Guardian" app.

Besides accessing resources from approved occupational accident medical institutions and government channels, the "Occupational Accident Guardian" app enables workers to receive real-time updates and information. Additionally, workers affected by occupational accidents can use the system to submit service requests, receive one-on-one assistance and referrals from dedicated personnel, and continuously monitor the progress of their cases. The app now includes not only the traditional Chinese interface, but also English, Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese interfaces. The multilingual interface is designed to help migrant workers feel more at ease while working and living in Taiwan.

CEO Ho Jiune-Jye of the center pointed out that, in the spirit of national equality, migrant workers are considered part of the country’s labor force. Consequently, the goal is to offer services that are on par with those provided to Taiwanese citizens, ensuring that migrant workers have easy access to legal person resources. "Nobody wants occupational accidents to happen, but when they do, everyone feels helpless and requires assistance. Legal persons play a crucial role in offering support in such situations."
       
In addition to increasing 4 language options, 2 new features have been added to the "Occupational Accident Guardian" app. (1) Enhancements to the medical institution search and location functionality. This includes a GPS-enabled feature for real-time location tracking, one-click phone calls, and quick access to information about medical institutions and local government contacts. (2) A new section called "Occupational Hazard Resources" has been added to help the public check their occupational accident status and access/download relevant reading materials. This feature is designed to help the public understand their rights and benefits, so everyone is encouraged to download and use the app with peace of mind.