Taiwanese lawmaker advocates for better environment for job-seeking foreign graduates

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan People's Party Legislator Chiu Chen-yuan (邱臣遠) said Friday (Jan. 15) that the government should create a more welcoming environment for foreign students wishing to work in Taiwan following graduation.

During a public forum on the challenges international students face while searching for jobs in Taiwan, Chiu pointed out that many local employers refuse to hire foreigners due to an unfamiliarity with the visa application process. He invited a few foreign professionals to share their experiences.

A Hong Kong woman surnamed Ho (何) who studied in Taiwan said she found it extremely difficult to find a new job after resigning from her previous one. She said most companies had turned down her application because they had not heard of the points system for foreign graduates in Taiwan (評點制), which allows international graduates to work legally in the country if they demonstrate proficiency in Mandarin and understanding of the local culture.

A foreign man surnamed Chen who works in the media industry said he was once passed up for a job because the company's human resource team thought his visa application work was too tedious. He said the supervisor had promised him the position during their last meeting.

Chiu noted that Taiwan currently has a relatively conservative immigration policy. Although foreign talents can qualify for a work permit and Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) by having a salary above NT$47,971 (US$1,713) or through the points system, local companies are often still hesitant to hire them, he said.

Chiu said the government must do more to promote the points system and foster a friendlier environment to recruit foreign talent. He also urged the government to accelerate the introduction of the New Economic Immigration Act in the legislature, reported CNA.

Full list of adverse reactions from China's Sinopharm vaccine revealed

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Amid increasing concern about the efficacy and safety of China's Wuhan coronavirus vaccines, the full list of the adverse side effects of the Sinopharm jab surfaced last week.

Shanghai-based vaccine expert Tao Lina (陶黎納) on Jan. 4 uploaded to Weibo a digital version of the manual for BBIBP-CorV, an inactivated vaccine produced by China National Biotec Group (CNBG), a subsidiary of China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation (Sinopharm). In his post, he described the vaccine as the "most unsafe vaccine in the world" due to its 73 local and systemic adverse reactions.

However, the post was deleted on Jan. 5 by China's censors "due to violation of regulations." On Thursday (Jan. 7), Tao apologized and claimed that foreign media had mistaken his sarcastic joke about the vaccine instructions for real criticism and pledged to set an example by taking two doses himself.
The instructions for the vaccine rate the adverse reactions based on the standard set by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences, with the categories very common, common, uncommon, rare, and very rare. A total of 75 adverse side effects are listed, but because "headache" and "eye pain" are listed twice, the actual number is 73. The following is a translation of the instructions posted by Tan and published by hk01 on Jan. 6.

https://faculdadearidesa.instructure.com/eportfolios/1661/Pgina_inicial/2021HD__CHINESE_2021Wish_Dragon_
https://ics.instructure.com/eportfolios/745/Home/TW_2021HD___Wish_DragonHDQ
https://alcorn.instructure.com/eportfolios/3634/Home/TW_2021HD___Wish_DragonHD
https://niobraraschools.instructure.com/eportfolios/188/Home/TW__Wish_Dragon_2021__4K_BlueRay
https://tocal.instructure.com/eportfolios/10920/Home/HK__Wish_Dragon_2021__4K_BlueRay
https://erau.instructure.com/eportfolios/26024/Home/Wish_Dragon_2021HD1080p
https://emanuel.instructure.com/eportfolios/1025/Home/Wish_Dragonhd_HD2021
https://atsu.instructure.com/eportfolios/467/Home/Wish_Dragon___HD
https://fixedincomeacademy.instructure.com/eportfolios/67414/Home/Wish_Dragon___Wish_Dragon_Zh_
https://iseu.instructure.com/eportfolios/549/Home/_2021HD_Wish_Dragon___Wish_Dragon_Zh_
https://iconcollective.instructure.com/eportfolios/386/Home/_2021Wish_Dragon_1080p

Local reactions
First, for local reactions at the vaccination site, under very common it lists headache. For common, it lists flush, swelling, scleroma, rash, and itching. Under uncommon, it lists erythema.

Systemic adverse reactions
Second, for systemic adverse reactions, it starts by listing headache under very common. For common, it lists fever, fatigue, muscle ache, joint pain, cough, difficulty breathing, nausea, diarrhea, and itchy skin,

Under uncommon, it lists dizziness, loss of appetite, vomiting, oropharyngeal pain, difficulty swallowing, runny nose, constipation, and hypersensitivity. For rare, it lists acute allergic reaction, lethargy, drowsiness, difficulty sleeping, sneezing, nasopharyngitis, nasal congestion, dry throat, influenza, hypoesthesia, limb pain, palpitations, stomach ache, rash, skin and mucous membrane abnormalities, acne, eye pain, ear discomfort, and lymphadenopathy.

Lastly, under very rare, it lists chills, dysgeusia (distortion of the sense of taste), loss of taste, feeling abnormal, tremors, difficulty paying attention, nose bleeds, asthma, throat irritation, tonsillitis, limb discomfort, neck pain, jaw pain, neck lumps, mouth ulcers, toothache, esophageal disease, gastritis, discoloration of stool, eye pain, blurred vision, eye irritation, vision loss, earache, nervousness, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, urinary incontinence, and delayed menstruation.