Taipei, April 16 (CNA) The number of workers in Taiwan placed on furlough or unpaid leave programs fell more than 300 in the past 15 days, indicating that uncertainties on global trade resulting from the Trump administration tariff actions have not affected the local job market, the Ministry of Labor (MOL) said Wednesday.
Data compiled by the MOL showed the number of furloughed workers in Taiwan fell 307 from the end of March to 1,682 as of April 15, while the number of employers who implemented unpaid leave programs also dropped by 13 to 110 in the first half of the month.
Speaking with CNA, Wang Chin-jung (王金蓉), deputy head of the MOL’s Labor Conditions and Equal Employment Division, said Taiwan’s export-oriented manufacturing sector reported the largest decline in furloughed workers in the 15 days, down 171 from the end of March to 1,361 as of April 15.
In the sector, Wang said, two machinery suppliers together put more than 200 workers back to production lines on the back of an increase in orders.
However, another machinery maker placed about 100 employees on its unpaid leave program during the same period, Wang added.
In addition, 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 will resume, Wang said.
Meanwhile, a plastics supplier placed more than 100 employers on furlough, Wang added.
Wang said the United States’ tariff policies have so far had little adverse impact on local employment, but the issue has created tremendous uncertainties.
In light of this, the MOL has contacted some of the exporters for updated information about their conditions, Wang added.
Outside the manufacturing sector, the lodging and food/beverage industry also reported a fall of 86 furloughed workers in the 15 days to 30 as of April 15 after a hotel operator in Hualien County, which had felt the pinch from a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on April 3, 2024, ended a furlough program.
But Wang said it was not clear whether the hotel will resume the furlough program as the local tourism market is still weak.
Currently, the MOL updates its furloughed worker data on the 1st 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, according to the MOL.
Unpaid leave programs typically last for less than three months, with employees taking five to eight days of unpaid leave per month, the MOL said.
