TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Labor (勞動部) reported a significant decrease in the number of employees on unpaid leave, dropping by 2,035 to reach a three-month low of 7,118 as of Tuesday (Dec. 16). This decline comes as some businesses, particularly those with more than 50 employees, resumed operations due to urgent orders, though the overall industry recovery remains uncertain.
The latest statistics reveal a reduction in the number of companies implementing unpaid leave, with 378 businesses involved, a decrease of 78 from the previous period. The manufacturing sector remains the primary industry affected, accounting for 309 companies and 6,677 employees, which represents 93% of the total. Within the manufacturing sector, the metal and machinery industry registered the greatest impact, with 249 companies and 5,014 employees impacted.
Smaller enterprises, those with fewer than 50 employees, make up 90% of the companies implementing unpaid leave, with most offering between one to four days off per month. Huang Chi-ya (黃琦雅), director of the Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment (勞動條件及就業平等司), told the Central News Agency that the current number of employees on unpaid leave marks the lowest point since Sept. 15, but it still falls short of the 1,993 employees recorded at the end of March, which follows the announcement of U.S. tariffs.
In a positive development, 123 companies did not receive notification to extend or prematurely terminated their unpaid leave periods, allowing 2,625 employees to return to their regular work hours. Additionally, 11 companies with more than 50 employees halted their unpaid leave programs due to urgent orders, affecting 1,115 workers. The Ministry of Labor indicated that whether these companies will resume unpaid leave remains to be seen.