Public concerns over rising unemployment after Taiwan enters WTO may turn out to be well founded, several top economists said yesterday.
"Blue-collar workers will be impacted the most," said Kai Ma (馬凱), an economist at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research.
There are about 300 million laborers in China poised to flow into the global market after China enters the WTO. "Since Taiwan has a similar language and culture, the labor market in Taiwan is expected to be hit directly," Kai said.
Taiwan's jobless rate has risen over the last five years because of the introduction of foreign labor and the increasing number of local companies moving abroad, a statement by the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research said yesterday.
"To ease the burden of rising unemployment, the government should try to create at least 50,000 job opportunities every year, especially in the service sector," Kai said.
WTO entry has created a sense of urgency for the unemployed.
"I know more companies may move to China and there will be less job opportunities next year, so I am trying my best to find a job now," a man surnamed Chen said.
Chen, 42, and a father of three, previously worked in the food production sector.
Asked if he would take work in China, he said that "although there might be more opportunities in China, I don't want to leave my family."
But for young people, going to China may be an option.
"If I can find a good offer in China, why not take it? It's a big market with a lot of development potential," said Wan Chih-chiang (
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