Arrest Warrant Issued for OnePlus CEO Pete Lau
The authorities from Taiwan have issued an arrest warrant against Pete Lau, the OnePlus CEO, due to charges of illegally recruiting Taiwanese engineers. The arrest warrant comes as a result of investigating the recruitment process that breached laws of economic activities across the strait.
The warrant came from the prosecutors of the Shilin district, who are currently investigating OnePlus for possible illegal recruitment of local talent without government permission.
Illegal Hiring Allegations Under Investigation
Prosecutors have it that the recruiters hiring engineers in Taiwan exceeded the allotted 70 engineers. This act of hiring was in contravention of the Cross-Strait Act governing the conducts of businesses in relation to ties between Taiwan and mainland China.
As per the researchers, this company had used an overseas entity in order to hide its ownership structure and escape any kind of oversight as it undertook R&D work in Taiwan.
Cross-Strait Law and Regulatory Framework
The Cross Straits Act of Taiwan stipulates that mainland Chinese-related firms must be approved prior to entering a business or employing personnel locally. This move serves as a means of protecting sensitive sectors as well as thwarting the transfer of talent.
Prosecutors have also indicted two Taiwanese nationals for allegedly facilitating recruitment efforts.
General Implications of the Technology Industry
This particular case is also a manifestation of the intensified efforts of Taiwan in dealing with hiring practices among foreigners without proper permits, particularly in the tech industry, because of tighter state regulation particularly due to security concerns.
There is no statement from OnePlus or Pete Lau, the founder of OnePlus, up until now regarding the issuance of this arrest warrant.
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