The labor ministry said 578 companies have imposed unpaid leaves to reduce employees’ working hours this quarter on Monday.
The total number of affected employees now amounts to 9,915, marking an increase of 789 people compared to the previous season. The majority comes from the manufacturing industry, with 7,909 employees being put on leave.
Among all sectors, the metal and mechanical industries top the list of industries with the highest number of involuntary leave cases. A bicycle supplier has asked nearly 200 workers to take involuntary leaves due to fewer foreign orders. According to the labor ministry, people are more inclined to take public transportation instead of cycling after the pandemic.
Deputy head of the labor ministry’s Labor Conditions and Equal Employment Division Wang Chin-jung (王金蓉) said that the involuntary leaves can happen for various reasons. She adds that when the production is slowing down due to lower demand, companies make corresponding adjustments to their workforce.