Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by Mathias Bölinger
00:33 Joy Tajonera , Catholic Priest
02:11  Joy Tajonera, Catholic Priest

SCRIPT:
                                                         
00:01 Sunday morning in central Taiwan. The churchgoers are migrants from the Phillippines. Some have travelled from all over the island to attend a mass with their fellow countrymen. For these devout catholics it is an emotional experience, but it is also an important community event and an opportunity for the migrant workers to discuss their problems with Father Joy Tajonera. He has become an advocate for the migrant's rights.

00:30 SOT Joy Tajonera , Catholic Priest
Along the way you realize that are so many injustices: social injustice, the violation of labor rights, the violation of human rights, the violation of women's rights. So you start to advocate: It should not be that way.

00:45 The Philippines is the third biggest country of origin for migrant workers in Taiwan. According to official figures more than 180,000 people from the Philippines are currently living in Taiwan, many of them working in Taiwans high tech industry.

01:01 Tech parks are not only the backbone of the economy. Taiwan's dominance in the semiconductor industry is  also often seen as a deterrent against an attack from China. But in order to keep production domestic, companies rely on migrant workers: And although laws prohibit discrimination, many complain that pressure on them is higher than on their Taiwanese colleagues.

01:25 SOT Name withheld for safety, revoiced
Every Philippina will say they are too tired. They have to do more work than the Taiwanese. For example the Taiwanese workers will run three machines. But we, the overseas workers will run five machines.

01:43 SOT Name withheld for safety, revoiced
Most of the Taiwanese work only two different shifts. Few of them ever have have night shifts.  But all of the migrants do.

01:54 A shared meal provides opportunities for further discussions and consultations. Father Tajonera does see improvements -  especially where manufacturers work with international companies.

02:09 SOT Joy Tajonera, Catholic Priest
One of the best things that happened so far is what we call supply chain. Meaning that the employers or manufacturers in Taiwan cannot make excuses. Because along the way when we do our research we say: Oh by the way you are selling your product in Germany or in France and this company says there is a corporate social responsibility.

02:31 Taiwan's labor ministry and the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association did not reply to DW's interview requests.

END