Taipei: The number of workers in formal furlough programs in Taiwan has decreased to below 2,000 in the first half of March as employment in the manufacturing sector showed signs of improvement, according to the Ministry of Labor (MOL).
According to Focus Taiwan, the number of workers in unpaid leave programs reported to the MOL fell by 918, from 2,873 at the end of February to 1,955 by March 15. Additionally, the number of employers implementing furlough programs decreased by 26, bringing the total to 109 as of March 15.
Hou Sung-yen, a specialist with the MOL's Department of Labor Conditions and Employment Equality, reported that the number of workers placed on furlough in the export-oriented manufacturing sector dropped by 920 over 15 days, totaling 1,548. Among the 11 employers who ended unpaid leave programs, a power management solution provider, a machine tool maker, a cooling solution supplier, and a passive electronics component maker reinstated workers to full-time status due to a recovery in orders.
Despite these positive developments, the manufacturing sector still accounted for nearly 80 percent of the total number of furloughed workers as of March 15, according to MOL data. In contrast, the service sector, particularly retail and wholesale companies, reported the highest number of furloughed workers at 264 as of March 15, up from 217 at the end of February.
The MOL updates its furloughed worker data on the 1st and 16th of each month and tracks the number of employees placed on furloughs as registered by companies with the ministry. Most of the companies implementing furlough programs are small enterprises with fewer than 50 employees. Typically, unpaid leave programs last for less than three months, with employees taking five to eight days of unpaid leave per month, according to the MOL.