The number of workers on unpaid leave programs fell by more than 300 in the past 15 days, indicating that uncertainties on global trade resulting from US President Donald Trump’s tariff actions have not affected the local job market, the Ministry of Labor said yesterday.
Data compiled by the ministry showed the number of furloughed workers fell by 307 from the end of last month to 1,682 on Tuesday, while the number of employers who implemented unpaid leave programs dropped by 13 to 110 in the first half of the month.
Taiwan’s export-oriented manufacturing sector reported the largest decline in the number of furloughed workers in the 15 days, dropping by 171 from the end of last month to 1,361 on Tuesday, said Wang Chin-jung (王金蓉), deputy head of the ministry’s Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment.
Photo: Lee Ching-hui, Taipei Times
Two machinery suppliers together called more than 200 employees back to work due to increased orders, while another machinery maker placed about 100 employees on unpaid leave, she said.
An electronics maker suspended its furlough program by putting more than 100 back to work and was in talks with its employees about whether the program would resume, she said.
Meanwhile, a plastics supplier placed more than 100 employers on furlough, she added.
The US’ tariff policies have so far had little adverse impact on local employment, but the issue has created tremendous uncertainties, Wang said.
In light of this, the ministry has contacted some exporters for updates about their situation, she added.
Outside the manufacturing sector, the lodging and food/beverage industry also reported that the number of furloughed workers dropped by 86 to 30 in the 15-day period after a hotel operator in Hualien County, which had felt the pinch from a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on April 3 last year, ended a furlough program, she said.
However, it was not clear whether the hotel would resume the furlough program as the local tourism market remains weak, she added.
The ministry updates its furloughed worker data on the first and 16th of each month and reports the number of employees placed on unpaid leave by companies registered with the ministry.
Most enterprises implementing furlough programs are small firms that employ fewer than 50 people, the ministry said.
Unpaid leave programs typically last for less than three months, with employees taking five to eight days of unpaid leave per month, the ministry said.
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