Focus Taiwan888888
Date: 05/18/2020
By: Chang Hsiung-feng and Chiang Yi-ching

Taipei, May 18 (CNA) In the wake of the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of furloughed employees in Taiwan has risen to 21,067, the highest level since November 2009.

As of May 15, 21,067 workers had agreed with their employers to go on unpaid leave, up 2,067 from seven days earlier, while 1,189 companies had introduced unpaid leave programs, up 142 from a week earlier, according to Ministry of Labor (MOL) data released Monday.

The number of furloughed workers is the highest since November 2009, when 19,948 workers were on furlough due to the effects of the global financial crisis, MOL statistics showed.

At the height of the crisis in February 2009, the number of people on unpaid leave peaked at nearly 239,000 in Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]