Focus Taiwan
Date: 02/13/2020
By: Wu Po-wei, Liu Pei-chi and Frances Huang

Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) The Breeze group, one of the largest shopping mall operators in Taiwan, confirmed Wednesday that it is planning to reduce its workforce, but declined to say whether the local media reports of a 30 percent cut were accurate.

Breeze, which has 10 shopping malls in Taipei, said the workforce reduction plan is a routine internal adjustment, and it will continue to expand and hire professionals to help its growth.

The company opened its 10th Taipei mall in January 2018 — the Breeze Nan Shan in Taipei's Xinyi District – and is planning another one in the city's Nangang District but has not yet set a date for that opening, it said.

Its layoff plans were first reported in the local media, which said Wednesday that Breeze would reduce its workforce by about 30 percent, which would mean cutting 200-300 employees, because the scare over novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected private consumption and hurt Taiwan's retail industry.    [FULL  STORY]