People on social media have been left in shock at a video that shows an overseas domestic worker in Taiwan giving birth in her boss’s bed just months after being hired. - Photo: SCMP composite/bc3ts.net
TAIPEI: A family in Taiwan has been left in shock after only discovering that their Indonesian domestic worker was pregnant when she gave birth in their bed.
The family from northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu posted on Facebook that the domestic helper they hired to take care of their grandmother five months ago was pregnant without them knowing, according to the Taiwan news outlet The Storm Media.
They posted surveillance video footage showing the worker giving birth while on the elderly woman’s bed on September 11.
The grandmother was sitting in a wheelchair with her back to the bed while the worker delivered the baby on her own.
She appears to have had no knowledge of the pregnancy until hearing a baby’s cry and turns her head to check in shock.
The poster said they did not know about the pregnancy because the law does not require a pre-employment pregnancy test from migrant workers living in Taiwan, and she had been wearing baggy clothes to hide her bump.
The unidentified worker was required to have a body check before she came to Taiwan, but she reportedly used her friend’s medical document to pass the labour migration check.
The poster complained that the family had to look after the worker and her baby.
According to local regulations, employers who fire pregnant workers or workers who newly give birth could face a penalty of up to NT$1.5 million (US$47,000), and a cancellation of their qualification to hire a new worker for two years.
Taiwan’s International Association of Family and Employers confirmed the baby’s father is still in Indonesia, and they promised to send the baby back to the father.
They reportedly planned to let the worker continue working for the family.
The news left many online observers in shock.
“I understand why the employers cannot fire pregnant workers or new mothers, but it is unfair for the employer in this case,” one person said.
“Taiwan needs to update its policy. Some migrant workers are taking advantage of the social benefits,” another online observer said.
Foreign workers in Taiwan and the babies they give birth to there can receive benefits covered by official health insurance.
Taiwan had 760,000 overseas workers as of March this year, according to the Ministry of Labour. Taiwan’s population was 23.4 million as of August.
Taiwan is entering a super-aged society, where more than 20 per cent of the population are over 65 years old, as its birth rate kept dropping.
Taiwan’s total fertility rate was 0.87 child per woman last year, one of the world’s lowest, according to government data. - South China Morning Post
