1. Deconstructing the Run-away: the Case of Migrant Care Worker in Taiwan
Frank Wang, Yang Ming University (Taiwan)
Hsiao-Chuan Hsia, Shih Hsin University (Taiwan)
Bruce Liao, National Chen-Chi University (Taiwan)

2. From the Illegal to the Undocumented
Shifting frames: the Illegal immigrant, the run-away, the irregular immigrant, the undocumented
Standpoint of the ruling regime or the ruled
Migrant workers become undocumented for various reasons: their freedom of choice is limited
Sometimes they run away because there is no way out.
Questions: what are the run-away experiences for those domestic care workers? What are the social relations that make these experiences possible?

3. Migrant Worker Policy
The Taiwanese policy maker adopted the ‘guest worker’ principle in its temporary labor policy in 1991 but vowed to avoid the result of German experience, to prevent migrant worker from becoming residents or citizens.
Quota system: incentive for private broker agents to change worker
Limits on industries and occupations: 1. manufacture jobs that are labor-demanding or environment-dirty, 2. domestic worker: nanny and care worker.
Time limit: from 2-4 yrs. to 3-9 yrs. If the employer is willing to apply for extension of the second/third term.
Cannot change employers.
Cannot join or form unions
The result is a worker who cannot say no to her employer.
Restriction on import countries (importing labor quota negotiation as bargaining power in Taiwan’s diplomatic policy)

4. Why they run away? Jane: I ran away because I did not have enough rest
「I’m not allowed to go out and to make a phone call. There is one time, the driver fetch me to the 4th wife I saw 7 eleven and I talked to the driver to stop for a while for me to make a phone call I told him it’s emergency then he said “okey, make it fast”, then I borrow NT$100 to buy a phone card because my salary they remitted directly to my account in Philippines. 」(Jane)
Working from 6am-3am:「Everyday, I feel that I’m floating. So this is the reason why I run away.」(Jane)

5. Joy: I ran away because I have a lots of responsibilities
Actually their nice and good so I have nothing to say with them.
I still have lots of responsibilities in my country. My source of living is here.
Since I need more another extention, they don’t extend me so I plan to run away.

6. How they resettled after run away?
Relatives and friends (Jane)
Broker-run shelter (Joy)
Dependence on broker as a transitional means for developing social network
Independence is defined by having a network for job referrals.
「So for those run away, first is to find a broker? Yes, then later on when their employer introduced them to their friends then ok.」(Joy)

7. The existence of illegal care market
Care needs excluded by policies
Barthel Index as the way of defining needs
Needs for care due to the missing family care capacity and environments
「In my part time jobs, they are even happy that there are undocumented so they can hire a helper. As you know that a lot who can afford to pay but not qualified to hire so they are forced to hire an illegal worker. (Joy)」

8. Re-claiming free labor
The brokers fee NT$5,000 but since the salary is very low so I just gave NT$2,000 for the broker. (Jane)
「the employer likes me and I work there for more than 2 years. My first salary is NT$18,000 then after 2 months I talk to my employer “can you add my salary”, then my employer said okey. So my salary becomes NT$20,000 every month for 1 year. Then when I work there for 1 year I talk again to my employer for the salary then my employer said “I will make your salary NT$25,000 and no more additional” and I said “okey, thanks”.」 (Jane)
「I negotiate before I work. They don’t have other choice. Because if no day-off, nobody will go to work for them, so they have no choice.」(Jane)

9. Jane’s work history as a run-away
Place
Monthly Salary
Day-off
Source of work
Work period
YangMai
14000
2 day off per month
Broker, 5000 broker fee
1 month
HsinChu
20000
2 months
Huway
22000
Friend, no broker fee
4 months
Taipei
18000（first two months）
20000（first year）
25000（plus 6000 bonus in New Year）
Self found, no broker fee
2 years

10. Joy: Part-timer is the best
「Is it difficult to find a job as undocumented? Yes, that’s why some are going stay-in, some need the help of the broker.」(Joy)
「Working for a broker as stay-in is dangerous because in stay-in sometimes the neighborhood are the ones who report you. They will see you and will wonder why how come they can get a helper where they are not qualified that’s why they will have an idea that you are illegal」(Joy)
「That (changing jobs) is the advantage of being undocumented. If you don’t like the employer you can quit to them and find another job through friend. If they know some employers who need help, they will recommend you.」(Joy)
「if you have a job everyday you will earn NT$40,000 to NT$50,000 」

11. Learning to be watchful all the time
「Actually if you treat them good they will treat you good also in return.」(Joy)
You will know especially the immigration officer because they don’t wear uniforms, and the way they move, just like military. (Joy)
Jean and I separate ways and it happens that my way is where the policemen way. So what I did is go straight in front of them. (Joy)

12. You can trust nobody
「I’m always aware of everybody, there is always a limitation, and there is always a hindrance to my movements. Before I’m not a run-away I’m active in organization. I can do whatever I want, but now that I’m illegal there is already a limitation, I cannot be exposed in the public.」(Joy)
「If you really don’t know your friends, you cannot trust them anymore, even they can be trusted. There is always a doubt that maybe someday they will sell you 」 (Joy)

13. Dividing among migrant workers
「Some think that undocumented will ruin the reputation of legal ones, they were affected by the undocumented that are some reasons. Because of undocumented some employers are more strict to them and are afraid that they might be influenced and may run away also.」(Joy)

14. Expectations for the future
「Hopefully till my eldest will finish his college, maybe 2 more years. Because of the job, there is no assurance that you can have savings. Also the situation, the risk in going out and even if your planning to go home in 2 years, if you are unlucky to be caught by tomorrow you will still go home.」(Joy)
「There should be a law that they work only for 8 hours and the rest will be overtime.」(Joy)
「Even I’m undocumented, I’m not afraid to go out anywhere. Q: Why you are not afraid? I don’t know, all I am thinking is to help and that’s my goal. I enjoy my life here being a volunteer to help the migrants. 」(Jane)

15. What are they running away from?
They become illegal immigrant worker so they can have rights that are guranteed in laws for workers.
They run away in order to be free from the slavery system that dehumanizes workers.

16. Reproduction mechanism of the ethinical division of the migrant/the local between migrant worker policy and LTC policy
Excluding families with migrant worker to reduce needs for public LTC
Maintaining residual welfare system
Maintaining guest work system through regulatory system
Reinforcing migrant worker at the button of care market
Public LTC not favored by the public
Demand for public LTC is relieved and the crisis of legitimation is eased
Migrant Worker Policy
LTC
Blaming victim: If you rest, I cannot rest
Blaming victim: you take away out jobs and delay the development of LTC
Excluding families who hire migrant worker from public LTC
Excluding migrant worker from labor rights；cracking down illegal migrant wr.
Stratification via dividing practices

17. Run-away as resistance to be explored
Freedom to change employers
Laws protecting working conditions for stay-in migrant care workers
LTC accessible to all