2000年我國首度經歷政黨輪替,此後,外勞政策產生量變與質變。 90年代我國開放引進外勞,外勞總數逐年攀升,直到2000年陳水扁執政後,人數首度出現微幅下降的趨勢。陳水扁按照選舉承諾執行緊縮外勞政策,但受到國內外政經因素與社會需求影響,效果不如預期,外勞總數並沒有大幅度縮減。2004年之後,在尋求連任、經濟發展、政治接班角力等多重因素影響下,緊縮政策逐漸被鬆動,外勞總數再度呈現增加趨勢。 另一方面,民進黨訴求人權立國,外勞管理制度加入「維護外勞權益」的思維。實質上是藉由合法、合理照顧外勞,改變外勞市場的供需強度,紓解緊縮外勞壓力,並達成與外勞輸出國進行正式外交互動的目的。由於合理化外勞管理制度從來就不是核心政策價值,因此執行上並不完整,2006年還是發生高捷泰勞抗爭事件,前國策顧問劉俠猝死也凸顯外勞管理的嚴重問題。
After the first transfer of power in 2000, the policy for migrant workers had quantitative and qualitative changes. Since 1989, the KMT government launched the migrant workers policy. The amount of migrant workers increased year by year till Chen Shui-Bian took over the power in 2000. Chen carried out the shrink policy from 2000 to 2003. Because of the political and economic factors, Chen’s promise of cutting 15,000 migrant workers every year was unable to cash. After 2004, considering the multiple factors, including Chen’s reelection, economic development and party competition, Chen’s policy shifted again. The amount of migrant workers started to increase slightly. As for qualitative change, Chen Shui-Bian government claimed to improve and protect the right of migrant workers, not only to release the pressure of shrink policy, but also to increase the opportunity to get in touch with foreign nations. The change was not thorough. Thailand workers of Kaohsiung Rapid Transit stroked for fair treat in 2006. The sudden death of former national policy adviser Liu Xia revealed the serious problem of management.