9 فبراير 2026
Taiwan: Winds of Change: Can Taiwan’s Offshore Wind Deliver Fair Work Too? incl companies' comments
الملخص
Date Reported: 9 فبراير 2026
الموقع: تايوان
الشركات
Century Iron and Steel - Parent Company , Taipower - Client , Vestas - Parent Company , Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners - Client , Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) - Investor , Ørsted - Client , Century Wind Power - Employer , Northland Power Inc - Client , CPC Corporation - Client , Synera Renewable Energy - Client , Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) - Investor , Mitsui & Co. - Clientالفئة المتأثرة
Total individuals affected: 1000
عمال مهاجرون: ( Number unknown - فيتنام , التصنيع: عامة , Men , Unknown migration status )القضايا
Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Debt Bondage , Contract Substitution , رسوم التوظيف , الترهيب والتهديد , الحرمان من حرية التعبير , Wage Theftالرد
الرد الوارد: Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
الإجراءات المتخذة: Century Wind Power said, at first, that it was compliant with all relevant laws and international conventions and that, “together with our clients, (it) continuously audits the human rights and labor conditions of migrant workers to ensure no violations occur.” Like the Danish offshore wind companies CIP, Ørsted, and Vestas, it did not commit to specific follow-up actions. This was before EIFO’s visit in December. In January, Century Wind Power said it had “conducted internal surveys and interviews” and confirmed that migrant workers’ fees and deceptive recruitment were among the issues it would address in the near future, together with experts. It also said that it had now stopped the “savings account” practice and had transferred the balances into workers’ regular bank accounts, but emphasized that it was mutually agreed with workers to set up savings accounts. CIP said that Century Wind Power is audited quarterly, and that the “last audit in September 2025 found no indicators of forced labor.” The Danish investment fund further said that it “do(es) not recognize the concerns raised about working conditions for migrant workers at our Taiwanese suppliers… Internal and external audits and assessments verify that our suppliers satisfy both international standards and local regulations.” The fund emphasized that its “main suppliers (Century Wind Power, Vestas) are contractually required to comply with ILO Standards.” A 2025 social impact assessment for CIP’s Fengmiao project said that workers “are not to be charged any fees related to recruitment or employment. In the event such payments have been made, they will be refunded.” CIP did not respond to questions regarding how this is enforced in practice. According to the article, CIP did not commit to investigate these issues raised by workers further. Vestas also requires suppliers to “ensure that no employment fees or costs are charged, in whole or in part, to any employee.” The Danish investment fund further said that it “do(es) not recognize the concerns raised about working conditions for migrant workers at our Taiwanese suppliers… Internal and external audits and assessments verify that our suppliers satisfy both international standards and local regulations.” The fund emphasized that its “main suppliers (Century Wind Power, Vestas) are contractually required to comply with ILO Standards.” Ørsted confirmed that its no-fee recruitment policy applies to business partners and said it has used a risk-based due diligence framework since “entering contracts with Century Wind Power and Siemens Gamesa in 2018.” Ørsted did not disclose if its risk assessments had identified recruitment fees and forced labor indicators the past eight years. According to the article, Ørsted did not commit to investigate these issues raised by workers further. Mitsui & Co. and CPC Corporation promised to investigate further. The EIFO said that it “require(s) project companies to follow international standards for ethical recruitment, including a zero-fee policy, as part of our due diligence“ and that "the issues you describe are serious, and we have initiated a formal enhanced review to establish the facts.” Its head of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) visited companies in Taiwan in December. “If the visit confirms any issues, we will – together with our partners and other export credit agencies – explore options to initiate a joint, extended labor rights audit of relevant suppliers… Should the audit identify harm to workers, we will use our leverage to ensure that the responsible parties provide remedy". Following a visit to Century Wind Power, the EIFO said “indicated potential labor rights concerns. Based on these observations, we have engaged with leading actors in the offshore wind industry in Taiwan, as well as other export credit agencies, to initiate efforts aimed at addressing the challenges in a coordinated manner.”
نوع المصدر: News outlet
الملخص
Date Reported: 9 فبراير 2026
الموقع: تايوان
الشركات
CS Wind Offshore (part of CS Wind) - Partner , Taiwan Chin Fong Machinery - Employer , Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners - Client , Vestas - Parent Company , Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) - Investor , Siemens Gamesa - Client , Ørsted - Client , CS Wind - Parent Company , Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) - Investorالفئة المتأثرة
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
عمال مهاجرون: ( Number unknown - تايلند , التصنيع: عامة , لم يتم الإبلاغ عن النوع الإجتماعي , Unknown migration status )القضايا
رسوم التوظيف , Debt Bondage , الترهيب والتهديد , احتجاز وثائق الهوية و السفر و العملالرد
الرد الوارد: Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
الإجراءات المتخذة: CS Wind did not respond to multiple requests for comment by the journalist. Its Taiwanese partner, Chin Fong Machinery, confirmed that Chin Fong kept workers’ passports until January 2024, but said this happened “only if they voluntarily signed a consent letter” and that workers could retrieve their passports any time. Chin Fong said it was not aware of fees paid by its Thai employees to recruiters, but would investigate. CIP said that Century Wind Power is audited quarterly, and that the “last audit in September 2025 found no indicators of forced labor.” The Danish investment fund further said that it “do(es) not recognize the concerns raised about working conditions for migrant workers at our Taiwanese suppliers… Internal and external audits and assessments verify that our suppliers satisfy both international standards and local regulations.” The fund emphasized that its “main suppliers (Century Wind Power, Vestas) are contractually required to comply with ILO Standards.” A 2025 social impact assessment for CIP’s Fengmiao project said that workers “are not to be charged any fees related to recruitment or employment. In the event such payments have been made, they will be refunded.” CIP did not respond to questions regarding how this is enforced in practice. According to the article, CIP did not commit to investigate these issues raised by workers further. Vestas also requires suppliers to “ensure that no employment fees or costs are charged, in whole or in part, to any employee.” Vestas confirmed sourcing towers from CS Wind/Chin Fong with CS Wind as its contractual partner. “CS Wind uses Chin Fong’s facilities in Taiwan. CS Wind has responsibility for all employment activities … including working conditions, payments, etc. at the factory,” Vestas said. Vestas did not commit to taking up the issues with its supplier, but simply said that its “suppliers are responsible for ensuring that everything is in order, so we refer you to CS Wind.” According to the article, Vestas did not commit to investigate these issues raised by workers further. The Danish investment fund further said that it “do(es) not recognize the concerns raised about working conditions for migrant workers at our Taiwanese suppliers… Internal and external audits and assessments verify that our suppliers satisfy both international standards and local regulations.” The fund emphasized that its “main suppliers (Century Wind Power, Vestas) are contractually required to comply with ILO Standards.” Ørsted confirmed that its no-fee recruitment policy applies to business partners and said it has used a risk-based due diligence framework since “entering contracts with Century Wind Power and Siemens Gamesa in 2018.” Ørsted did not disclose if its risk assessments had identified recruitment fees and forced labor indicators the past eight years. According to the article, Ørsted did not commit to investigate these issues raised by workers further. Siemens Gamesa said it would look into the matter, citing “high compliance requirements.” The EIFO said that it “require(s) project companies to follow international standards for ethical recruitment, including a zero-fee policy, as part of our due diligence“ and that "the issues you describe are serious, and we have initiated a formal enhanced review to establish the facts.” Its head of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) visited companies in Taiwan in December. “If the visit confirms any issues, we will – together with our partners and other export credit agencies – explore options to initiate a joint, extended labor rights audit of relevant suppliers… Should the audit identify harm to workers, we will use our leverage to ensure that the responsible parties provide remedy".
نوع المصدر: News outlet
الملخص
Date Reported: 6 فبراير 2026
الموقع: تايوان
الشركات
Samsung C&T - Other Value Chain Entity , Taoyuan International Airport Corp. - Other Value Chain Entityالفئة المتأثرة
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
عمال مهاجرون: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , البناء , لم يتم الإبلاغ عن النوع الإجتماعي , Unknown migration status )القضايا
رسوم التوظيفنوع المصدر: News outlet
"Winds of Change: Can Taiwan’s Offshore Wind Deliver Fair Work Too?" 9 February 2026
'Taiwan is rapidly expanding its offshore wind sector as part of a broader push for clean energy. While offshore wind barely existed a decade ago, today Taiwan is the largest offshore wind market in Asia outside China.
Hundreds of offshore wind mills now line Taiwan’s west coast, with local factories behind many of the the steel giants – each weighing around 1,000 tonnes, rising more than 100 meters above the sea, and anchored nearly as deep below the waves. Migrant workers at some of these manufacturers say they incurred heavy debts to pay recruiters for their jobs, raising the risk of debt bondage as they worked to pay them off. Some interviewees also described additional indicators of forced labor, including withheld wages, deceptive recruitment, and intimidation and threats.' (...)
'Several of Taiwan’s largest offshore wind farms have their underwater foundations made by Century Wind Power, a subsidiary of Century Iron and Steel.' (...) 'More than 1,000 migrant workers are employed at Century Wind Power and another 400 at its parent, according to company sources.' (...)
'Another major supplier for several offshore wind farms is CS Wind Offshore (formerly Denmark-based Bladt Industries, now owned by South Korea’s CS Wind Corporation), which in partnership with Taiwan’s Chin Fong Machinery produces steel towers for the offshore wind farms. Chin Fong operates four factories in Taiwan and employs several hundred migrant workers.' (...) 'None of these issues are unique to these two manufacturers, but endemic in Taiwan’s manufacturing space more broadly.' (...)
'Ørsted, majority owned by the Danish government, owns all or substantial stakes in Greater Changhua 1 and 2a, where Century Wind Power is a direct supplier, and CS Wind/Chin Fong supplies towers through Siemens Gamesa. Ørsted also receives towers from CS Wind/Chin Fong via Siemens Gamesa for Formosa 1.' (...)
'CIP is a majority owner of the Fengmiao and Changfang-Xidao offshore wind farms, where Century Wind Power is a direct supplier. CIP also holds a stake in the Zhong Neng farm. CS Wind/Chin Fong supplies towers for Zhong Neng and Changfang-Xidao as part of Vestas’ supply chain.' (...)