65 MARTINDALE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE ther efforts by the DPP to expand IVF access for homosexual couples and single individuals could prove successful, provided the party can mobilize substantial public support via organized campaigns. These efforts could take the form of lobbying, sweeping protests, or even a media-driven marketing campaign that promotes the benefits of liberalizing IVF access. The eventual goal is to amend the ARA to allow for 1) a widened scope to include same-sex couples and single people, 2) the option to use surrogacy, and 3) a fund designated for financing couples in need of reproductive support. This campaign can be spearheaded by organizations such as the Taiwan Equality Campaign (2020), a group of five women’s rights groups and LGBTQ+ rights organizations, formed in 2020, focused on promoting equality for same-sex marriage, adoption, and assisted reproductive technology. By amending the ARA, Taiwan can continue to lead the region in LGBTQ+ rights and simultaneously open new avenues for boosting birth rates. This must happen swiftly to protect long-term demographic and economic stability. Immigration Immigration represents another approach to mitigating population decline. According to the International Monetary Fund, immigration drove 80% of population growth in Europe and 32% in North America from 2000 to 2018 (Peri, 2020). Historically, Taiwan has had strikingly low net migration, with female migration much lower than male (Cheng & Loichinger, 2017). In response, the government has begun providing assistance to immigrants to better incentivize integration. In July 2024, the Legislative Yuan passed the New Immigrants Basic Act (National Immigration Agency, 2024). Its multiple updates to immigrants’ rights include enhanced legal protections and status. Alongside these efforts, plans are in the pipeline that aim to develop a centralized agency to oversee immigrant affairs. The Ministry of the Interior’s budget commits NT$300M (~US$10M) annually to aid new immigrants’ in adapting to life in Taiwan (National Immigration Agency, 2024). In October 2019, under the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, Taiwan instituted the Gold Card to attract high-quality and skilled talent (Laws & Regulations Database…, 2021). Those interested can apply to the National Immigration Agency for a four-in-one Employment Gold Card, which covers the immigrant’s work permit, resident visa, Alien Resident Certificate, and a reentry permit that allows unlimited entry and exit from Taiwan (Taiwan Employment Gold Card Office, 2024). The program maintains no country preferences, and the full application process takes only 30–60 days. The Gold Card is unique in that it focuses specifically on professional skills across all industries and is relatively low cost. Even though the Gold Card successfully attracts highly skilled workers, adding opportunities for immigrants without specific skill requirements would increase the working age population and help offset the aging trend. Taiwan has some partnerships that allow for migrant labor. For instance, as of December 2024, 150,000 Filipino workers resided in Taiwan, primarily filling labor and caregiver roles (Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, 2024). Other migrant labor agreements exist with Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, with India the newest addition in February 2024 (Ching-hui & Chin, 2024). At the end of 2024, there were approximately 820,000 foreign workers in Taiwan, around 6.8% of the total labor force (~12 million) (Directorate-General of Budget…, 2025; Ministry of Labor, 2025). By comparison, in the US in 2024, foreign born workers accounted for 19.2% of the workers (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025). To enable greater immigration and offset its declining population, foreign labor quotas must be increased. Raising the quotas to allow 1.5–2M foreign workers would strengthen geopolitical ties with countries like the Philippines, with citizens moving to Taiwan seeking quality employment opportunities. To attract migrant laborers, safe and fair conditions must be ensured for all workers. The Labor Standards Act, enacted in 1984, enforces equitable working conditions for employees in most industries but excludes domestic workers and caregivers (Laws & Regulations Database…, 2024). A significant portion of female migrant workers serves as caregivers, working up to 24-hour shifts with little to no time off, unregulated working hours, no overtime pay, and limited recourse for reporting such conditions (Tierney, 2023). Local advocacy groups, like the Migrants Empowerment Network in Taiwan, lobby for stronger legislation to protect migrant workers (Hsiao, 2021). Expanding the Labor Standards Act to specifically cover domestic workers and caregivers would provide essential protections for migrant workers, creating a safer environment that attracts foreign workers. Local advocacy groups must continue lobbying for stronger legislation while publicly exposing labor violations. Finally, Taiwan currently lacks an asylum process. Taiwan is not a member of the UN and thus is not bound by the 1951 Refugee Convention, which de-
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