Hiring in Asia: what international clubs and sports companies should know about recruiting in Taiwan
Clubs, associations and sports brands outside Asia sometimes need to recruit coaches, staff or partners there. Taiwan is a useful worked example, because its key employment laws are published officially in English.
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Start with the job, then the rules
Before you look at permits, be clear on three things: is the person an employee, a contractor or a volunteer; where will they physically work; and which organisation will employ them. Each country answers these questions differently, and the answers decide which rules apply.
Bringing a foreign coach or athlete to Taiwan
- Taiwan's Employment Service Act lists the types of work foreign nationals may be employed to do, and sports coaches and athletes are named as one category (Article 46). The Act also requires an employer to obtain an employment permit before employing a foreign worker in these categories (Article 48). (Employment Service Act)
- The Workforce Development Agency explains that employers apply for work permits for foreign professionals online through the EZ Work Permit platform, with paper applications only in limited circumstances (EZ Work Taiwan).
- For established elite athletes, coaches and referees, Taiwan also offers the Employment Gold Card, which its official site describes as a combined open work permit, residence permit and visa. The sport criteria are based on results at major international competitions or, for coaches, coaching teams that achieved such results (Taiwan Employment Gold Card).
Hiring locally in Taiwan
- Write fair adverts. Article 5 of the Employment Service Act prohibits employment discrimination on a long list of grounds, including gender, age, marital status, appearance, place of origin and disability (Employment Service Act). Advertise the skills and experience the job needs, not personal characteristics.
- Use licensed agencies. Under Article 34 of the same Act, private employment service agencies must obtain an operating permit, which is renewed periodically (Employment Service Act). If you use a recruiter, ask to see its permit.
- Plan for language. Many club and federation roles will need Mandarin for players, parents and local partners. State the language level you need in the advert.
Across Asia
Each country in the region sets its own work-permit and employment rules. For any country, start with the government labour ministry and immigration authority, and ask the national hockey association which qualifications and background checks it expects coaches to hold.
If you need help recruiting in Taiwan, Step1ne is a Taiwan recruitment agency that handles search and screening for employers.
Disclosure: Step1ne is a partner of this site. This is a recommendation, not independent editorial content, and Step1ne did not write or review this guide. See our editorial policy.