TSMC's Arizona Facility Sparks Labor Tensions as Taiwanese Engineers Constitute 55% of Workforce

According to The New York Times, approximately 50% of the workforce at TSMC's Fab 21 facility in Arizona still consists of Taiwanese employees. While this ratio is expected to shift during subsequent phases of the semiconductor giant's $40 billion Phoenix expansion, the current staffing composition of 2,200 workers - nearly half imported from Taiwan - has drawn union criticism. This directly contradicts TSMC's 2020 project announcement pledging substantial local job creation, with labor advocates protesting the relocation of over 1,000 Taiwanese technicians to American soil.

Additional tensions stem from cultural clashes: TSMC's mandatory overtime requirements conflict with U.S. workplace norms, while internal whistleblowers allege preferential promotion practices favoring Taiwanese staff over American engineers. Industry analysts suggest these growing pains highlight fundamental differences in semiconductor manufacturing cultures between East and West.