In August of 2005, Thais working to build the Kaohsiung MRT organized protest demonstrations, shocking many. Media investigations discovered that more than 1,700 workers were living in corrugated metal buildings with poor ventilation. Strict controls were put on their bathing, use of phones, and purchases, and their wages were largely being withheld. They were being treated much like "slave labor."
2005 年 8 月，高雄爆發了震驚各界的捷運泰勞集體抗爭事件，經媒體走訪發現，罷工抗爭乃肇因於 1,700 多名泰勞居住在通風不佳的鐵皮屋裡，打電話、洗澡、購物等都受到嚴格管制，薪資亦遭苛扣，處境形同「奴工」，新聞披露後，不僅輿論撻伐，也引發政府查辦檢討。