Here in Taiwan, a total of 103 so-called "sheltered workshops" have been established to offer job opportunities for people with disabilities. But problems in current policies regarding such institutes have caused heavy financial burdens on them and even threaten their survival. Dozens of social welfare groups are now asking the authorities to help address the issue.

For physically or mentally challenged individuals, going to work at sheltered workshop is a way to prove themselves and help alleviate the financial burden of their family.

According to the statistics, Taiwan has 103 such facilities, offering 15,000 job opportunities.

However, the country has 620,000 physically or mentally challenged people who are employable.

There are simply not enough jobs for all of them.

In 2007, when the sheltered workshops were switched to the supervision of labor bureaus, they became the employers.

This change makes running such workshops even more difficult.

In the public hearing, social welfare groups talked about their difficulties.

They are responsible for their own financial losses and pay for labor and health insurance fees.

The financial burden is too overwhelming.

That's why some scholars urge the government to review the position of sheltered workshop.

Both scholars and social welfare groups believe the government are not giving its best support. Even when it orders gift boxes from sheltered workshops, it tries to lower the prices despite the rising cost of raw materials.

After learning the difficulty of sheltered workshop, legislators of both ruling and opposition support the law amendment while asking the government to solve the issue.

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