New research on migrant labor in Taiwan highlights ongoing abuse in electronics, bicycle, and auto parts manufacturing, despite existing legal safeguards. The report calls on stakeholders to implement preventive measures to stop abuse of migrant workers.
The report, titled “Speed Up! Addressing forced labor risks in Taiwan’s car, bicycle and electronics industries” by investigative journalist and historian Peter Bengsten, highlights new cases and are taken from investigations between 2022 and 2025. The report was published in March 2025 and highlights the central role of private labor brokers, whose control over recruitment and employment often results in exploitative arrangements that companies fail to adequately monitor. Many workers reported obstacles to freedom of association, including fear of dismissal or blacklisting for engaging with unions or filing complaints. Weak enforcement by authorities further compounds these risks, allowing abusive practices to persist across supply chains linked to global brands.
In December, the Business & Human Rights Centre invited investors linked to the new cases of abuse (Advantech, Weide, Dimensional, ASUStek, Vanguard, BlackRock, Morgan Stanley and Norges Bank Investment Management) to respond to the allegations of labour rights abuse at investee companies in Taiwan. The timeline and responses from ASUStek, BlackRock, Morgan Stanley and Norges Bank Investment Management are available in the BHRC website. Others are still to comment.
For updates, read the story published by the BHRC. Download the report from the link above.
