A thread about migrant workers in Taiwan: My family had a handful of live-in carers pass through for my elderly, immobile grandparents after their accidents/strokes. This was over the course of maybe 10 years.

They were mostly young women in their 20s, some married with kids. Only one was single. They are trained to be invisible. They don’t get to choose what they eat or when they eat (many shop and cook for the family). They have very little free time and personal space.

People seem to think migrant workers are treated well if they aren’t yelled at, have a bit of time to rest, and get to look at their phone once in a while. But you’ll notice they don’t tend to laugh or smile between Mon and Sat. Their daily life is isolation through invisibility.

Young mothers are supposed to pretend their kids at home don’t exist. They go where they’re told, they speak when they’re spoken to. They have no free will 6 days a week. Sunday is the only day they have to themselves. When they can think about themselves and speak their mind.

There are Taiwanese who would love migrant workers to stay invisible on Sundays too. It’s callous, discriminatory and classist. Both of my grandparents passed years ago. The carers all went home. I can only hope they’re doing well and their time in Taiwan was worth it.