Talking Taiwan: J.W. Henley Author of “Migrante” Reveals the Plight of Migrant Workers in Taiwan

December 16, 2022 Felicia Lin

Joe Henley is Freelance Writer and Author. The last time we had Joe on Talking Taiwan (in episode 64) we spoke about his book Bu San Bu Si. In this episode I spoke with him about his latest book, Migrante, which has recently been translated into Chinese. Joe shared how the idea for this book about the plight of migrant workers in Taiwan came to him, all the research that was involved, why he’s donating all of his proceeds from the sales of Migrante, and how his band nearly got arrested when they were performing in the Philippines.

[LISTEN to the Complete Episode HERE on APPLE PODCASTS or SPOTIFY]

This episode of Talking Taiwan has been sponsored by NATWA, the North America Taiwanese Women's Association.

NATWA was founded in 1988, and its mission is:

1. to evoke a sense of self-esteem and enhance women's dignity,

2. to oppose gender discrimination and promote gender equality,

3. to fully develop women's potential and encourage their participation in public affairs,

4. to contribute to the advancement of human rights and democratic development in Taiwan,

5. to reach out and work with women's organizations worldwide to promote peace for all.

To learn more about NATWA visit their website: www.natwa.com

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

How Joe got the Reading Times publishing company interested in translating his book Migrante from English into Chinese
How the translator of Migrante into Chinese is also the translator of Harry Potter books
Why the book cover for the English language version of Migrante is different from the Chinese language version of Migrante
The publisher of the original English language of Migrante, Camphor Press gave Joe a complete control over the design of the book cover
What Joe had in mind for the cover of the English language version of Migrante when he asked Isa Nthrope, a Manila-based artist and musician to created it
The two book cover options that the publishing company offered Joe for the Chinese language version of Migrante
What prompted Joe to write Migrante
The news reporting that Joe has done about communities of people in the Philippines who live in cemeteries and how this is related to the main character of Migrante
The research and various types of migrant workers that Joe interviewed for Migrante
Joe estimates that he’s interviewed 70-80 migrant workers during the five years he spent on writing Migrante
NGOs that Joe spoke to: Yilan Migrant Fisherman Union and Serve the People Association
Joe’s reporting on the “Drug War” in Manila
Migrante is a composite work of fiction
How Joe “met” the son of Rodrigo Duterte when he was the mayor of Davao
The time Joe thought he was going to get arrested and put in jail while performing with his band in the Philippines
Joe’s thoughts on the recent election of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr.
How the journey of many Filipino migrant workers starts in the Philippines
Factory workers in Taiwan are covered by the Labor Standards Act but caregivers, and fishermen are not, and what that difference means
How Indonesia has made a stand for the rights of its migrant workers that work in Taiwan
May God, the only brokerage agency in Taichung, Taiwan that Joe has come across, that actively encourages employers of migrant workers to shoulder all the placement fees, transportation fees and monthly service fees, which are usually passed on to migrant workers
The research that Joe did to be able to describe scenes in the book
The range of factory dormitory conditions
The living conditions of caregivers
Joe’s writing process for Migrante
Why migrant workers can’t easily quit or leave their jobs
Professor Jose Mario de Vega and how Joe consulted with him for feedback on Migrante
How Joe hopes that his book will create awareness about the plight of migrant workers in Taiwan
Joe is donating all of his proceeds from the sales of Migrante to the Yilan Migrant Fishermen Union and Serve the People Association

LISTEN to Episode 216: J.W. Henley Author of “Migrante” Reveals the Plight of Migrant Workers in Taiwan HERE

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[LISTEN to the Complete Episode HERE on APPLE PODCASTS or SPOTIFY]

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Related Links:

LISTEN to Episode 216: J.W. Henley Author of “Migrante” Reveals the Plight of Migrant Workers in Taiwan HERE