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New Delhi. A poster put up during local elections in Taiwan has created a new controversy. A big ‘NO’ sign was shown on the picture of a person wearing the Indian tricolor and a turban on the campaign board of an independent candidate contesting the city council elections in Kaohsiung City, after which a sharp reaction is being seen from social media to political circles. This poster is being described as anti-India and promoting racial discrimination.

Poster put up against the entry of Indian workers

In fact, Taiwan had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with India regarding migrant workers in 2024. Under this, the way was opened for recruitment of Indian workers in sectors like manufacturing, agriculture and care. On this issue, independent candidate Lee Hung-Yi, who is contesting from Siaogang district of Kaohsiung, put up this poster to register his protest.

The candidate says that his protest is not against Indians, but against the preparations of the government. He claimed that there should be adequate security and management arrangements before calling workers from India. However, after the picture of the poster went viral, the matter turned into a political and social controversy.

Indian community said racial discrimination

People of the Indian community living in Taiwan have strongly criticized the poster. One Indian citizen described it as “straight-up racial discrimination”, saying that protesting a policy is one thing, but targeting a country’s cultural symbols and identity is wrong.

At the same time, Wang Yi-Heng, head of the Kaohsiung unit of the New Power Party, said that the Indian tricolor and turban are symbols of respect and faith. Putting a ban mark on them is not only insulting, but it is also a step like spreading hatred in the society.

Opposition parties are also opposing Indian workers

Taiwan’s main opposition party KMT is also opposing the plan to call workers from India. Party leaders say the government should seriously examine the social impacts and security aspects of the scheme.

KMT lawmaker Huang Chien-pin raised concerns about women’s safety in Parliament, citing data from India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). He said that the government should make strict rules before implementing any labor program.

Severe shortage of workers in Taiwan

On the other hand, the Taiwan government is considering this scheme as a solution to the increasing labor shortage in the country. Due to declining birth rate and rapidly aging population, the need for workers for industries is increasing.

According to Taiwan’s Labor Minister Hung Sun-Han, there is a plan to initially invite about 1000 Indian workers under the pilot project in 2026. Further its number can be increased depending on the demand of the industries and security arrangements.

Indians already working in high-tech companies

At present about 7000 Indian citizens are working in Taiwan. Most of these are associated with high-tech companies like Foxconn and TSMC. The industry is supporting the recruitment of Indian professionals and workers, while the opposition parties are raising the issue of social adjustment and security.