In Taiwan’s southern port city of Kaohsiung, surrounded by his bandmates, Rudi takes the stage. As his bandmates begin to play, the audience is whipped into a frenzy of excitement. Rudi sings, “Silenced by threats, here we stand against this system of slavery,” as the crowd forms a mosh pit, chanting along with him. A banner reading, “Migrant workers have the right to a voice,” hangs between two microphones. Originally from Indramayu, West Java, Rudi struggled to find work in Indonesia and moved to Taiwan in 2015 to operate heavy machinery in a factory.
Despite the promise of better opportunities, many of Taiwan’s migrant workers, like Rudi, face exploitation, debt, and abuse. Formed three years ago, Rudi’s band, Southern Riot, uses poetry and punk music to protest against the systems they believe trap migrants. They provide a space for their audience, mostly migrant workers, to express themselves and escape from the harsh realities of working life.
Migrant workers in Taiwan often face exploitation from employment agencies, brokers, and employers. Many are forced to pay high placement fees, leading to crippling debt. They are given strenuous tasks, work longer hours than local employees, and are often not paid properly. Some are even tricked into moving to Taiwan under false pretenses, like Asher and Jaali, who were promised work as acrobats but ended up working on a farm.
The power imbalance between employers and migrant workers leaves many feeling powerless. Workers like Liezel Bartolome, diagnosed with ovarian cancer, face uncertainty and exploitation from their employers. Despite the challenges, some migrant workers find solace in Taiwan, where they have access to work and social services they wouldn’t have had back home. Though facing difficult circumstances, many still strive to build a better life in their adopted homeland.