Are inmates required to work while in the correctional facility? What are the work programs?

1. Prisoners should participate in work unless they suffer from a disease, are within the period of admission investigations, are placed under enhanced security, or where it is specified in other laws. Defendants in detention participate in work if they are so willing. As for juvenile inmates, students, delinquents under rehab and observation and individuals receiving rehabilitation (detoxification) treatment, they may participate in edification activities, learn crafts or receive skill training based on rehabilitation needs.
2. The types of work include work run by the correctional facility, processing work consigned by others, designated work outside prison, and comparable work.
   1. Work run by the correctional facility: These are work programs that are technical and cost effective, and developed by the correctional facility based on its characteristics. The program stresses self-sufficiency from the purchase of raw materials, machines and equipment to production, marketing and sales, and is guided by the concept of sustainable development.
   2. Processing work commissioned by others: These works refer to manufacturing or processing of products commissioned by outside businesses. As this type of work must seek a balance between correction purpose, security of the facility and demand of the outside business, it is mostly works without security concern.
   3. Designated work outside prison: It means prisoners working in specific places that are not under prison control, including guarded external work and autonomous external work.
   4. Comparable work: Prisoners engaging in cooking, cleaning, repair and maintenance, caretaking, and other tasks assigned by the prison to maintain the daily cleaning and operations of the prison shall be regarded as work.

Do inmates get paid for their work? Can inmates draw on their labor income (salary) at will?

1. Inmates who work will receive labor income. The payment amount is calculated based on inmate’s actual work time and labor productivity.
2. Level 4, Level 3, Level 2 and Level 1 prisoners may use freely 1/5, 1/4, 1/3 and 1/2 of their labor income generated every month respectively. However, when inmates need to draw on labor income that is not at their direct disposal, they should provide the prison with use purpose, items to purchase, amount needed or other information and may draw on their income after a senior prison official has given approval.
3. The portion of labor income which prisoners may not use freely will be saved by the prison on their behalf and returned to them upon release.

Can inmates attend vocational training? Can they receive license or certificate?

1. Correctional facilities place high importance on the vocational training of inmates. The purpose is to enable them to learn a skill that will help them find a job more easily after they leave the facility. Thus inmates are allowed to enroll in vocational training programs based on their interests.
2. Unless it is otherwise provided by laws, correctional facilities will select inmates who meet the following criteria to attend training programs:
   1. Having not been punished for any act that disrupts the order or security of prison in the past six months;
   2. Will be eligible for parole (exemption from training or suspension of enforcement of sentence) or release from the correctional institution within five years after the completion of training, unless it is otherwise approved by the Agency of Corrections due to some special circumstances; and
   3. Not held in isolation.
3. Vocational training for inmates may be skill training courses for license/certification and short-term skill training course. Inmates who attend skill training courses for license/certification may receive a license/certificate after they have completed the course and passed the skill test offered by the Workforce Development Agency under the Ministry of Labor or other professional institutions.

Do correctional facilities offer employment guidance or employment services?

1. Correctional facilities invite Workforce Development Agency, the employment service units of city or county governments, or personnel of the Taiwan After-Care Association every month to supervise the employability enhancement courses, provide inmates who will soon be released job information and guidance to help them get familiar with employment and vocational training information. Correctional facilities also coordinate with the “One Case by One Steward” employment service of the Ministry of Labor by referring released inmates to public or private employment service agencies based on their wishes. The aim is to help inmates find jobs immediately after release.
2. Inmates who are released can go to a local after-care association to seek assistance (they need to present their certificate of release) or visit a local employment service center (station) or the website of Workforce Development Agency to apply for job matching or inquire the availability of vocational training classes. Inmates who wish to start their own business can also seek resource assistance from the after-care association at the place of their household registration.