ABSTRACT
The movement of capital, services, goods and persons from Taiwan to mainland China has picked up speed and volume during the past decade. Compared to other production factors, the mobility of the labour force is more contentious in terms of impact on both sending and receiving countries. It is especially challenging given the political stand-off across the Strait. In attempting to integrate Taiwan, over the years, China has moved to loosen its immigration policy, granting Taiwanese almost unrestricted rights to work and residence. The Taiwanese have capitalized on such opportunities by expanding their job searches to include mainland China, and as a result of this continuous migration stream, it is now common for Taiwanese families to have relatives or friends working in China. According to the Taiwan General Social Survey, in 2006, over half of the respondents had immediate family members, near relatives, or close friends currently working China (Taiwan Social Change Survey 2007).
