Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park (
"We landed on the new millennium safely. No Y2K glitches were reported," said Huang Wen-hsiung (
The center had asked all companies in the park to report the outcome of their Y2K plans before 11am yesterday, regardless of whether the result was "success" or "failure."
Several heavyweight companies, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (
TSMC, the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, said yesterday that the company successfully rolled over into 2000 with no problems.
"Our production lines are operating normally now. We've done our best to make sure our systems are Y2K ready," said TSMC president FC Tseng (
Winbond Electronics, a leading supplier of semiconductor solutions, announced that it had experienced no Y2K problems due to its successful Y2K rollover plan, which included Y2K compliance of four fab sites containing semiconductor manufacturing equipment worth more than US$900 million.
Powerchip Semiconductor also announced successful results from its Y2K efforts.
"We have invested a great deal of efforts and time to solve Y2K problems. From Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, 2000, we mobilized more than 120 employees to stand by at plants and offices," said Tsai Kuo-chi (蔡國智), Powerchip's general manager, adding that the company had spent NT$15 million on its Y2K plan.
While the park entered the new millennium without any Y2K glitches, 524 listed companies in the manufacturing sector also reported no Y2K problems, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA,
In addition, MOEA's Y2K command center took initiatives to contact 213 unlisted manufacturing companies in eight sectors, covering semiconductor, information technology, petrochemical, cement, steel, chemical fiber, paper and automobiles. No Y2K issues were reported.
The also center warned that the next crucial deadline is seen as Jan. 3, when many companies and government departments return to work after the New Year break. Companies should stay alert, the MOEA advised.
Real estate agent and property developer JSL Construction & Development Co (愛山林) led the average compensation rankings among companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) last year, while contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) finished 14th. JSL Construction paid its employees total average compensation of NT$4.78 million (US$159,701), down 13.5 percent from a year earlier, but still ahead of the most profitable listed tech giants, including TSMC, TWSE data showed. Last year, the average compensation (which includes salary, overtime, bonuses and allowances) paid by TSMC rose 21.6 percent to reach about NT$3.33 million, lifting its ranking by 10 notches
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