Kaohsiung City, Taiwan — November 19, 2025
Kaohsiung City authorities conducted a multi-day crackdown on illegal migrant laborers on November 19, resulting in the arrest of 17 individuals, including four previously missing migrant workers. The operation, carried out by the Kaohsiung City Special Task Force of the Southern District Affairs Brigade under the National Immigration Agency, uncovered workers hiding in dangerous conditions at a cold storage processing plant in Qianzhen District.
Among the rescued was an Indonesian worker who had sought refuge in a -6°C freezer. He had been hiding inside for nearly half an hour and was shivering from the extreme cold. Fortunately, he was unharmed after being rescued; the freezer could not be opened from the inside, posing a serious risk to his life.
Authorities reported that the raid was prompted by tips about unidentified foreigners frequently entering and leaving the frozen food processing facility, where they were involved in fish unloading and cutting. Upon arrival, several migrant workers attempted to flee, but three Indonesians were apprehended. These workers eventually disclosed that another migrant, a man from mainland China, was hiding in the freezer, fearing an accident. The Special Task Force immediately located and rescued him, where he had been wrapped in a plastic bag to retain body heat.
Following the initial rescue, the task force divided into multiple groups to conduct ambushes in Renwu, Fengshan, and Gangshan districts. Using coordinated operations, they arrested a total of 17 illegal immigrants. Authorities stated that investigations will continue to identify other missing migrant workers and hold employers accountable. Cases will be referred to local labor bureaus for prosecution under the Employment Service Act, and inspections will expand to detect further illegal employment activities.
Chao Chih-cheng, captain of the Kaohsiung City Special Operations Team, warned that hiring undocumented migrant workers is a serious violation of the Employment Service Act, punishable by fines of up to NT$750,000. “It is simply not worth the risk for temporary convenience,” Chao said.
The operation highlights the ongoing efforts of Kaohsiung authorities to enforce labor laws and protect the welfare of migrant workers in hazardous working conditions.