State-run firms plan layoffs

State-owned businesses are planning to lay off 2,500 workers this year, an official of the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.

Lu Chi-cheng (呂桔誠), vice chairman of the ministry's Commission of National Corporations, stressed that "rationality" not "streamlining for streamlining's sake" is the principle upon which the layoffs will be based.

He noted that there were 67,700 employees in state-owned enterprises last year and that the target for this year is 65,200, a reduction of 3.5 percent, or 2,500 fewer than the previous year.

Among the layoffs, Taiwan Power Co (台電), Chinese Petroleum Corp (中油), Taiwan Salt Industrial Corp (Taisalt, 臺鹽) and Taiwan Water Co (台灣自來水) will cut between 1,200 and 1,400 jobs, while Taiwan Sugar Corp (台糖) will lay off between 1,000 and 1,200 people. Kaohsiung Ammonium Sulfate Corp (高雄硫酸錏) and Taiwan Agricultural & Industrial Development Corp (台灣農工) will also cut between 90 and 110 workers, respectively.

Lu also said that Taisalt will be privatized through the release onto the market of 60 percent of its stake, although as related operations are not ready, the listing process may be delayed until the end of the year.

The privatization of Taiwan Agricultural & Industrial Development could also be delayed, Lu said.