Contributor

Hsiuwen Liu

Hsiuwen Liu was a Labor x Tech reporter based in Taipei, Taiwan. She writes about mental health, human rights, and social justice, focusing on long-form narratives that examine how politics affects people’s lives. She was previously senior reporter at Bloomberg Businessweek’s Chinese edition, covering business and politics in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

A man harvesting oysters in a muddy coastal area with wind turbines in the background and wooden poles marking the oyster beds.

Innovation 12 January 2026

AI’s green-energy goal is devastating Taiwan’s coastal villages

Aggressive expansion of wind energy to power the semiconductor industry is upending the livelihoods of farmers and fishers.

A colorful illustration featuring several large sized babies in diapers engaged in playful activities, set against a vibrant cityscape with tall buildings. One baby stands confidently atop a roof, while others are climbing, sitting, or floating through the air. A robot companion walks with a larger baby down a green hill, with rainbow-like trails swirling around them. The background includes decorative elements like fireworks and soft pastel colors.

Labor 3 September 2025

In Taiwan’s Silicon Valley, tech workers are fueling a mini baby boom

As Taiwan’s fertility rate plummets and young women increasingly choose to remain single, the island’s Silicon Valley is bucking the trend.

An aerial view of a storage area with several large wind turbine blades arranged in parallel rows. In the foreground, a tall orange crane is positioned next to the blades, with a road and a red vehicle visible below.

Labor 2 July 2025

Taiwan is creating an offshore wind industry to fuel its semiconductor factories

The island’s offshore wind ambitions are creating a new class of cable engineers.

An illustrated scene depicting individuals in a futuristic, high-tech setting resembling a computer circuit board. Several people sit or lie on small bunks, appearing distressed or disoriented, while a figure in a pink outfit operates machinery above. The environment is dark with neon green and purple highlights, emphasizing a surreal and dystopian atmosphere.

Labor 4 June 2025

Workers describe abusive treatment in Taiwan’s semiconductor factories

A record number of people are leaving the Philippines to work in Taiwanese factories, where they face long shifts, low pay, and unequal treatment.

A towering figure in green trousers and grey shoes stands over a crowd of pink, hooded figures working at tables filled with various tools and equipment, some holding money and others looking upward. The setting is a stark, industrial-like space with bright lighting and a staircase leading up to a balcony.

Labor 28 May 2025

Taiwan’s chip plants run on migrant workers. Job brokers run their lives

In Taiwan’s AI-fueled chip boom, brokers control everything from paychecks to dorm beds, leaving workers feeling trapped and exploited.

A stylized illustration of a large, graduation cap with the surface of the cap resembling a semiconductor chip, surrounded by small figures in lab coats who appear to be working on it, with a gradient color scheme and a green background.

Labor 12 February 2025

Students are doubling as cheap labor for Taiwan’s semiconductor factories

Student-interns are paid for low-skill factory tasks and spend little time in the classroom.