The Taiwanese diplomat who pleaded guilty in the United States to labor fraud charges against her Filipina helpers may be questioned when she returns home to Taiwan, a news site reported on Thursday.

Foreign workers in Taiwan may be allowed to stay longer there after Taiwan lawmakers voted to extend the maximum length of employment for foreign migrant labor in blue-collar sectors from nine to 12 years.

Filipino applicants planning to stay in Taiwan for six months or more may be required to submit a fingerprint record in applying for a visa starting next year.

TAIPEI – Almost a thousand protesters took to the streets of Taipei on Sunday demanding that the government make a weekly day off a legal right for Taiwan’s 200,000 foreign live-in carers.

A Taiwanese envoy to the United States is detained in Kansas City and faces a prison term and a penalty over allegations that she maltreated her Filipina helper.

Philippine and Taiwan officials have signed a memorandum of understanding on direct hiring of Filipino workers by Taiwanese employers, according to a report on news site Focus Taiwan.

Filipinos are among the migrant workers trafficked to Taiwan through recruiters and brokers, a recent US State Department report showed.

Some 2,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan gathered for a “Fun Day” of games and dancing to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

A depressed overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who had just arrived from Taiwan on Tuesday tried to commit suicide at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 3.

Some 77,000 Filipinos are expected to join the celebration of the Philippines’ 113th Independence Day in Taiwan.