Chinese firms have garnered a reputation for attempting to poach talent from Taiwan, with the region’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, SMIC, also being accused of following this practice. On the latest occasion, OnePlus founder and CEO Pete Lau has been issued an arrest warrant by Taiwanese prosecutors for allegedly recruiting workers illegally, which is said to have given the smartphone maker a distinct advantage in the industry. As for how the company successfully hired employees, read on to find out.
Taiwanese workers have reportedly been getting recruited from OnePlus for more than a decade, with two citizens already indicted by prosecutors
Members of the Shilin District Prosecutors Office state that OnePlus opened up a shell company in Hong Kong with a distinct name, then launched a branch in Taiwan in 2015 without obtaining government approval. This specific brand worked on the research and development of OnePlus handsets, with Engadget reporting that the firm violated the Cross-Strait Act, which protects the security and welfare of Taiwanese citizens. One detail mentioned in the act is that Chinese companies are required to have government approval before hiring workers from Taiwan.
Aside from OnePlus, a dozen other China-based firms have been investigated by Taiwan for illegally poaching talent, with even Huawei said to have attempted to secure talented engineers from TSMC by luring them with triple their current compensation to come work for the former Chinese smartphone giant. Looking at past and present reports, it is no secret that Taiwan is a gold mine for technology companies originating from China. It is also less complicated for Taiwanese citizens to become acclimated to jumpstart their career in the country because of the lack of a language barrier.
Given that Taiwan is home to the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturer, TSMC, the government has strict policies in place to protect its valuable secrets in an effort to prevent the competition from obtaining an unfair advantage. OnePlus founder and CEO has yet to comment on the current arrest warrant, with Bloomberg reporting that Taiwan’s justice ministry has yet to respond.
News Source: Taiwan News
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
