Despite fewer employees being on unpaid leave over the past couple months, the number of companies voluntarily reporting unpaid leave to the Council of Labor Affairs had increased, a recent survey by the council showed.
At the end of last month, the number of companies forcing unpaid leave on their workers had risen to 903, up 56 from 847 in the middle of last month.
However, the number of workers on unpaid leave decreased from 181,564 to 178,946.
The council’s explanation for the increase in companies reporting unpaid leave is that some mid to small-sized companies could be hoping to qualify for subsidies based on their unpaid leave status.
Judging from the decreasing number of people on unpaid leave, Sun Bi-shia (孫碧霞), director of the council’s Department of Labor Standards, said: “The number [of people on unpaid leave] should continue its downward trend gradually and steadily.”
Although government officials were optimistic about the results, labor associations remained skeptical.
Son Yu-lian (孫友聯), secretary general of the Taiwan Labor Front, said the decrease in the reported number of people on unpaid leave is because more of the workers are becoming “discouraged.”
He said many workers may have given up on being called back to work and decided to start their own business or find other means of support.
“The government should require companies to submit their financial reports before being allowed to put workers on unpaid leave, so that government officials can evaluate whether the unpaid leave is truly necessary,” he said.
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