Taiwan March 1, 2026

Lawfully Changing Employers (Transferring Employers) in Taiwan 2026: Conditions & Procedure

Q: If my employer withholds my wages, can I change employers?

Yes. The employer's failure to pay wages under the contract is one of the lawful grounds to change to a new employer under Article 59 of the Employment Service Act. To do so, you need to keep full evidence of the withheld wages (contract, pay slips, bank statements, message exchanges), then register the change of employer on the change-of-employer information system through the public employment service agency, and you must attend the coordination meeting (協調會) bringing your passport and ARC. Absolutely do not abscond — call the 1955 hotline (free, with Vietnamese-language service) for guidance on the correct procedure and to protect your lawful status.

Q: What happens if I do not attend the coordination meeting?

The consequence is very severe: if you are absent from the coordination meeting (協調會) without a legitimate reason, you will be regarded as having given up the opportunity to change employers. The authorities will then require the old employer to arrange for you to leave Taiwan within 14 days, meaning you lose the chance to keep working lawfully. So no matter how busy you are, you must be present and bring your passport and Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). If a force majeure reason makes it impossible to attend, notify the employment service agency in advance and call the 1955 hotline for guidance on how to handle it, so that you are not automatically deemed to have given up the right.

Q: Whom should I call for support in changing employers?

The first point of contact is the 1955 hotline of Taiwan's Ministry of Labor — free, available 24 hours, and with Vietnamese-language service. Through 1955, you can get advice on the conditions for changing employers under Article 59, guidance on preparing evidence, and you can file a complaint if the employer or broker obstructs your right to change employers. For complex cases — where it is hard to prove the reason is not your fault, where there is a dispute with the employer/broker, or where you need representation at the coordination meeting and in litigation — you should consult a lawyer. In addition, those who qualify may apply for free legal aid from the Legal Aid Foundation (法律扶助基金會). Act early and keep all your documents.

Po-Chang Yu (Raymond Yu) Chief Lawyer / Founder and CEO of Louis Group Lawfully Changing Employers (Transferring Employers) in Taiwan 2026

When they meet a bad employer — having wages withheld, being mistreated, terrible working conditions — many Vietnamese workers think the only way out is to abscond. This is the most dangerous misconception. In reality, Taiwanese law provides a lawful path for you to leave your old employer and move to a new one: changing employers (transferring to a new employer). Understanding this rule correctly is precisely the dividing line between keeping your lawful status and becoming an undocumented worker who is hunted down.

This article explains clearly: when you are allowed to change to a new employer / transfer to a new employer lawfully, what the procedure is, and the mistakes that cause you to lose this right.

1. The principle: "prohibition as the rule, permission as the exception"

Let me be frank so that you have no illusions: for unskilled workers (migrant workers with basic skills) — such as those in factories, construction, fishing, and caregiving/domestic work — Taiwanese law in principle does not allow freely changing employers. This is where they differ from professional/white-collar workers.

However, the "principle of prohibition" comes with an "exception of permission." The main legal basis is Article 59 of the Employment Service Act (就業服務法). If you fall within the statutory circumstances, you have every right to apply to move to a new employer before your contract ends.

2. When may you change to a new employer lawfully? (Article 59 of the Employment Service Act)

Under Article 59, a migrant worker is permitted to change employers or change jobs when one of the following circumstances applies:

1. The employer or the person being cared for dies or emigrates (settles abroad);

2. The fishing vessel sinks, is seized, or cannot continue operating because it must be repaired;

3. The factory/establishment closes down or ceases operations, OR the employer fails to pay wages under the contract, leading to termination of the contract;

4. Other reasons not attributable to the worker (not holding the worker responsible) — for example, being mistreated, being forced to work unlawfully, or working conditions that breach the contract.

Points 3 and 4 are very important for Vietnamese workers: having your wages withheld and being treated in breach of contract are precisely the lawful grounds to change to a new employer. In addition, there are two other common routes: changing employers when the contract ends (usually within 2–4 months before the work permit expires, if the old employer agrees not to renew) and changing employers by agreement (taking over the employment by mutual consent) between the old and new employers.

3. How does the lawful procedure for changing employers work?

The basic process consists of three parts:

Registering the change of employer: The change of employer is registered on the change-of-employer information system through the public employment service agency. The worker or the old employer files the application together with evidence of the reason for the change (for example, the employer's death/emigration certificate, documents proving the factory closed, evidence of unpaid wages, etc.).
Attending the coordination meeting (協調會): After registration, you must be present at the coordination meeting notified by the employment service agency, bringing your passport and Alien Resident Certificate (ARC).
The new employer completes the procedure to take over the employment (接續聘僱): During the change-of-employer period, the new employer files an application to take you on. If you are taken over, you continue working lawfully with your status and rights kept intact.

4. WARNING: mistakes that cause you to lose the right to change employers

This is the part many people do not know and pay dearly for:

Missing the coordination meeting = deemed to have given up. If you do not attend the coordination meeting without a legitimate reason, you will be regarded as having given up the opportunity to change employers. The authorities will then require the old employer to arrange for you to leave Taiwan within 14 days. So no matter how busy you are, you must attend the meeting.
The change-of-employer period is limited. If the deadline passes without a new employer having taken you over, you risk being sent home. Prepare your documents early and be proactive.
Lack of evidence. Many workers cannot change employers because it is hard to prove that the reason is not their fault. Keep all evidence (contract, pay slips, messages, recordings) from the very start.

5. Lawfully changing employers is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from absconding

Engrave this difference in your mind:

Changing to a new employer lawfully: you keep your lawful residence status intact, keep your insurance and all your rights, and can continue working long term.
Absconding: you become an undocumented worker, lose all your rights and insurance, cannot report it when money is stolen from you, and (under the amended Immigration Act effective 1 March 2024) face sharply increased penalties and a multi-year entry ban, and may even lose your deposit in Vietnam.

In other words, when you meet a bad employer, the correct answer is not to abscond, but to exercise your right to change to a new employer lawfully — and to call the 1955 hotline (free, 24 hours, with Vietnamese-language service) for guidance and protection.

6. 2026 update: relaxations and new opportunities

In 2026, Taiwan has made several notable adjustments relating to migrant workers:

Renaming "intermediate-skilled workers" to "foreign skilled workers" and adding new occupations; workers who qualify can move up to the skilled tier, aiming to stay long term.
Relaxing the conditions for hiring "foreign domestic helpers": from 13 April 2026, households with children under 12 can also apply to hire one — opening up further demand and opportunities for workers.
There are still rules on transferring between occupations to keep in mind; if you are unsure, ask 1955 or a lawyer before deciding.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can unskilled workers in Taiwan change employers freely?

In principle, no. For migrant workers with basic skills (factories, construction, fishing, caregiving/domestic work), Taiwanese law follows the approach of "prohibition as the rule, permission as the exception." However, you are allowed to change employers in the exceptional circumstances set out in Article 59 of the Employment Service Act (就業服務法): the employer or the person being cared for dies/emigrates; the fishing vessel sinks or ceases operating; the factory closes down or the employer withholds wages; and other reasons not attributable to the worker, such as being mistreated, being forced to work unlawfully, or working conditions that breach the contract. In addition, there is changing employers when the contract ends, and changing employers by agreement between the old and new employers.

If my employer withholds my wages, can I change employers?

Yes. The employer's failure to pay wages under the contract is one of the lawful grounds to change to a new employer under Article 59 of the Employment Service Act. To do so, you need to keep full evidence of the withheld wages (contract, pay slips, bank statements, message exchanges), then register the change of employer on the change-of-employer information system through the public employment service agency, and you must attend the coordination meeting (協調會) bringing your passport and ARC. Absolutely do not abscond — call the 1955 hotline (free, with Vietnamese-language service) for guidance on the correct procedure and to protect your lawful status.

What happens if I do not attend the coordination meeting?

The consequence is very severe: if you are absent from the coordination meeting (協調會) without a legitimate reason, you will be regarded as having given up the opportunity to change employers. The authorities will then require the old employer to arrange for you to leave Taiwan within 14 days, meaning you lose the chance to keep working lawfully. So no matter how busy you are, you must be present and bring your passport and Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). If a force majeure reason makes it impossible to attend, notify the employment service agency in advance and call the 1955 hotline for guidance on how to handle it, so that you are not automatically deemed to have given up the right.

Is changing employers the same as absconding?

Completely different, and this is a vital distinction to make. Changing to a new employer lawfully: you keep your lawful residence status intact, keep your labor insurance, health insurance, and all your rights, and may continue working long term with the new employer. Absconding: you become an undocumented worker, lose all your rights and insurance, cannot report it when your wages are stolen, and under the amended Immigration Act effective 1 March 2024 you face sharply increased penalties (around NT$10,000–50,000) and a multi-year entry ban, in some cases up to 7 years, and may even lose your deposit in Vietnam. When you meet a bad employer, the correct answer is to exercise your right to change to a new employer lawfully, not to abscond.

Whom should I call for support in changing employers?

The first point of contact is the 1955 hotline of Taiwan's Ministry of Labor — free, available 24 hours, and with Vietnamese-language service. Through 1955, you can get advice on the conditions for changing employers under Article 59, guidance on preparing evidence, and you can file a complaint if the employer or broker obstructs your right to change employers. For complex cases — where it is hard to prove the reason is not your fault, where there is a dispute with the employer/broker, or where you need representation at the coordination meeting and in litigation — you should consult a lawyer. In addition, those who qualify may apply for free legal aid from the Legal Aid Foundation (法律扶助基金會). Act early and keep all your documents.

Meeting a bad employer does not mean you have to abscond and lose everything. Taiwanese law gives you a lawful path — changing employers — as long as you understand the conditions correctly, keep your evidence, and follow the correct procedure.

The Louis Group legal consulting group has a Vietnamese-speaking team and offices in both Taiwan and Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City). If you need help proving the reason for changing employers, preparing documents, or facing a dispute with the employer/broker, we are ready to advise you on protecting your rights in accordance with the law.

This article is general legal information, not a legal opinion for any specific case; the rules may change. In an emergency, please call the 1955 hotline and check the latest information from the competent Taiwanese authorities.