TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Merida Industries, the second largest bike maker in Taiwan after Giant Group, has adopted a zero-fee policy for its migrant workers following the U.S. Customs and Border Protection move to block imports from Giant over forced-labor allegations.
"We strictly comply with Taiwan’s labor laws," Merida said in a news release Friday. "However, we recognize the gap between local labor laws and international expectations, and we vow to continue to align ourselves with internationally recognized labor standards.
"Effective October 1, 2025, we are implementing a zero-fee policy for migrant workers. New workers will not have to pay recruitment agency fees for jobs. No migrant workers — new recruits or current employees — will have to pay monthly service fees to brokers. All these costs will be covered by Merida. In addition, we are in the process of creating a reimbursement plan to compensate migrant workers for their earlier recruitment costs. Our goal is to complete the reimbursement by October 25, 2025."
"We believe the actions above will now ensure our complete alignment with international standards and expectations. Our priority remains the well-being of our employees. We are dedicated to continuous improvement and to ensuring that our workplace upholds the highest standards of fairness, safety, and dignity," the Merida statement said.
Merida's decision to reimburse current workers for earlier recruitment fees goes a step further than the zero-fee policy that Giant enacted in January.
A Giant spokesman told BRAIN on Friday that the company is examining whether to reimburse workers. "Giant is carefully studying possible further steps, including whether and how to expand beyond current coverage. This is a complex issue that requires detailed evaluation and external consultation, so at this stage no finalized approach has been announced. We will communicate any concrete plans once they are determined," said Ken Li, the head of Giant’s global PR and marketing, in an email to BRAIN.
