The number of workers on unpaid leave due to US tariffs fell slightly in the first half of this month, thanks to a recovery in orders, the Ministry of Labor said yesterday.
The number of workers impacted by tariffs fell to 7,530 as of Saturday, down by 45 from the end of last month, the ministry said, adding that the number of employers carrying out furlough programs also declined by 17 to 353.
Labor Conditions and Employment Equality specialist Li Yi-hsuan (李怡萱) said the data indicated that employment in the local export-oriented manufacturing sector was stabilizing, on the back of an increase in orders.
Photo: CNA
The manufacturing sector recorded the largest number of furloughed workers at 7,923, accounting for about 94 percent of the total, ministry data showed.
The metal and electric machinery industry reported the highest number of furloughed workers at 6,029, with 283 employers implementing furlough programs, Li said.
The service sector stayed stable, with the number of workers on unpaid leave in the wholesale and retail industry remaining at 338, while the figure for the lodging, and food and beverage industry fell one to 32, data showed.
The total number of furloughed workers across the country was 8,456, up by 125 from the end of last month, while the number of employers implementing unpaid leave programs fell by 20 to 435, ministry data showed.
As tariff negotiations between Taiwan and the US are still ongoing, with Taipei aiming to lower the 20 percent tariff, the ministry will continue to closely watch the job market, Li said.
The ministry updates its furloughed worker data on the first and 16th of every month.
Most of the enterprises implementing furlough programs are small companies that employ fewer than 50 people.
Unpaid leave programs typically last less than three months, with employees taking five to eight days of unpaid leave per month, the ministry said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS