The number of workers in formal furlough programs has fallen to its lowest level in more than three years on the back of a recovery in the export-oriented manufacturing sector, the Ministry of Labor said yesterday.
Data compiled by the ministry showed that as of Monday, the number of workers placed on the government-subsidized unpaid leave programs fell to 3,861, down from 824 from 4,685 on June 30.
During the same period, the number of employers adopting furlough programs dropped to 228 from 272, the ministry said.
Photo: CNA
“The fall in the number of furloughed workers largely reflects growing global demand driving the local manufacturing sector,” Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment Director Huang Wei-chen (黃維琛) said.
As of Monday, the number of furloughed workers in the manufacturing sector fell to 2,973, down by 913 from 3,886 on June 30, while 51 companies in the sector ended their furlough programs during the same period.
Two bicycle parts makers respectively put about 240 and 170 workers back on production lines in the 15-day period, while two electronis components suppliers stopped their unpaid leave plans for more than 100 workers each, Huang said.
In addition, several smaller firms in the chemical and light manufacturing industries also ended their furlough programs, he said.
“These manufacturers largely saw orders from their foreign clients grow at a time of a global economic recovery,” he added.
Although the number of furloughed workers in the retail and wholesale sectors fell to 273 as of Monday from 370 at the end of last month, the numbers for the hotel and food/beverage industry rose to 351 from 258 during the same period, ministry data showed.
Huang attributed the increase to the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Hualien County on April 3, negatively impacting the county’s tourism industry.
“In Hualien alone, the number of furloughed workers rose by 173 in the first half of this month, with the number of employers with unpaid leave programs in place up by 19, including tour bus owners and hospitality firms,” he said.
“The good news is that one hotel in Hualien stopped its furlough program by putting more than 100 employees back to work, as its business was boosted by a return of tourists during the summer vacation period,” he added.
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