Taiwan employer indicted for forcing Muslims to eat pork

[Al-khiyal]

Taiwan employer indicted for forcing Muslims to eat pork

May 10, 2010 -- A Taiwanese employer was indicted for forcing three Muslims from Indonesia to eat pork. Taiwan's prosecutors sought an eight-month sentence for the woman surnamed Chang. They said she has "violated human rights, failed to respect religious freedom and seriously damaged Taiwan's national image." Chang forced the three Indonesian migrant workers to eat pork over a seven-month period. She threatened to take money out of their salaries if they didn't eat the pork. The prosecutors said during the indictment that Chang believed that the meat "would give the women more stamina for work." Islam forbids its adherents from consuming pork because it regards pigs as unclean. An official with the Taiwan International Workers Association said the three are now working at new jobs in Taiwan. Taiwan currently employs about 350,000 foreign laborers, many from Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

[Al-khiyal]

Boss 'forced Muslims to eat pork'

May 10, 2010 -- Three Muslims from Indonesia were "distraught and afraid" after their boss at a suburban Taipei factory forced them to eat pork over a seven-month period or face punishment. Taipei prosecutors indicted Chang Wen-lin, the owner of Shin Hua Hang Fashion Co, on April 26 for forcing the three women to consume pork during their September 2008 to April 2009 employment. In their indictment the prosecutors said Chang believed the meat "would give the women more stamina for work" and threatened to take money out of their salaries if they did not eat it. Islam forbids its adherents from consuming pork because it regards pigs as unclean.

Susan Chen, of the Taiwan International Workers Association, said her organisation cared for the three women for three to four months beginning in April 2009 after they filed a complaint with Taipei county authorities and were removed from the factory by labour rights officials. "They were distraught and afraid when they came to our shelter, partly because they thought they might be sent home," Ms Chen said. "They still showed a lot of fear when they met their employer again for the first time after their rescue during a meeting to discuss employment disputes." Chang was not immediately available for comment.

Ms Chen identified the women as Tarsinah, Suswati and Wasilah. She said they were now working at new jobs in Taiwan and did not want to comment on the case because they feared it could endanger their employment. Ms Chen said Chang originally hired the women as carers, but they were ordered to work from 7am to 11pm in his factory after they arrived in Taiwan. She said they were paid an average salary of 1,370 New Taiwan dollars (£28) per month - far less than the minimum wage. Taiwan now employs about 350,000 foreign labourers, many from Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Most work as carers or as factory and construction labourers.