The unemployment rate among people aged between 15 and 24 in Taipei has increased to 12.8 percent, more than three times the overall unemployment rate in the city, government statistics showed.
Citing data from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, city government officials said that the percentage of people who lost their jobs last month stood at 3.91 percent, higher than October’s figure.
The Taipei Department of Labor said it has come up with four solutions to help residents cope with losing their jobs.
The department is seeking to identify companies that might lay off a large number of employees to make sure that the companies are able to provide severance or retirement payments, officials said, adding that it is also trying to secure the rights of employees who have been forced to resign.
There have been reports of large-scale layoffs in Taipei in the first two weeks of this month, with as many as 4,500 people losing their jobs, the city government said.
Two programs laid out by the department are aimed at helping unemployed young people, as well as women seeking employment after retirement, officials said, adding that the programs would offer internships and courses to help students learn professional skills.
The department estimates that as many as 70 percent of individuals attending the courses would be able to find a job.
The department has created another program aimed at helping middle-aged and elderly people, or individuals supporting their families, find jobs that are offered at the city government’s employment service office.
For those whose new job pays less than NT$27,000 a month, the city government would pay a “salary subsidy” in accordance with the Rules on Subsidizing Targeted Unemployed Individuals for Stable Careers in Taipei City (台北市特定對象失業者穩定就業補助辦法).
The city government offers NT$5,000 per month for a maximum of six months for unemployed people to find ongoing employment, the department said.
The final program devised by the department aims to help disabled people who want to start their own business.
The department is to subsidize a maximum of NT$700,000 for rent and initial expenses for those starting a new business.
The department said it estimates that 280 people will benefit from the program.
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