"Currently, there are about 230 thousand Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan who work legally, and about 30 thousand workers who have not registered. Most of them are Muslims, who have a life style of their own."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan will have an impact on Taiwans policies related to provision of facilities in the Formosa Island, an official at the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) in Indonesia said.

The number of Indonesians in Taiwan is increasing just as the island attracts more migrant workers. This is leading to even stronger cultural interaction between the two sides, the Director of Press Information Division at TETO, Ismail Mae, told ANTARA here on Friday.

"Currently, there are about 230 thousand Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan who work legally, and about 30 thousand workers who have not registered. Most of them are Muslims, who have a life style of their own, such as consuming halal food and their own places of worship," Mae said.

The needs of the workers to live within the framework of Islamic rules, despite living as a minority, according to him, attracts the attention of Taiwan.

Mae explained that Taiwan accommodates the needs of all communities, including Muslims who represent only 0.3 percent of the total population in the island.

"Taiwan fully finances the Hajj pilgrimage for Muslims. However, the number of people being financed has been falling down over time," Mae said.

He added that the number of mixed marriages between Indonesians and Taiwanese is growing, and within a period of two years, such people could be recognized as Taiwanese.

"Within ten years, such Indonesians will have the right to vote in elections," Mae added.

According to the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office (KDEI) in Taipei, the number of Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan is 238,000. They work in various fields, including the domestic sector.

Earlier, the Head of Labor of KDEI, Devriel Sogia, said the office in Taiwan calls Islamic ulema (teachers) on a regular basis.

Some time ago, there was information that the Indonesian government would put a moratorium on sending workers abroad.

The people of Taiwan had become concerned at such suggestion because they do need the Indonesian workers.

When the moratorium was found not applicable to migrant workers to Taiwan, people heaved a sigh of relief.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016