More OFWs laid off in Taiwan, APPM reports
MANILA, Philippines — At least 893 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been laid off in Taiwan and the figure could hit 2,400 by the yearend, a migrant group based in Hong Kong reported on Tuesday.
The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APPM) said the workers lost their jobs after their employers declared bankruptcy as the global financial crisis hit the island-nation.
By next year, some 11,500 foreign workers are expected to be retrenched and OFWs are not likely to be exempted, considering that there are about 90,000 Filipinos workers in Taiwan, it added.
Based on data gathered by APPM, 93 of the workers were laid off only on Monday by Coretronics in Taipei, with branches in Kaohsiung and Taichung; 261 were employed by GRPS manufacturer Garmin in Linkou, Taipei; 46 by Kingtech in Hsinchu; 44 by Syntech in Tainan; 173 by Hanstar in Kaohsiung; 87 by Optimax; and 120 by Promos.
The others are employed by Meiser in Hsinchu, 6; Monterey,27; Acme,11; Chroma,8; Hometec,6; and Gigasolution,11.
APPM said they have information that another big company plans to lay off OFWs by Dec. 16 - 17 even though their contract extend up to January or February next year.
It said the Philippine government should be on alert because some companies plan to slash their work force by 10 percent and to further cut cost by not shouldering the air fare of dismissed workers, with a promise to hire them again.
Taiwan, being heavily dependent on export, has been hard hit by the global economic crisis. To cut cost drastically, many companies are reportedly resorting to shifting and doing away with overtime. - D’Jay Lazaro
The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APPM) said the workers lost their jobs after their employers declared bankruptcy as the global financial crisis hit the island-nation.
By next year, some 11,500 foreign workers are expected to be retrenched and OFWs are not likely to be exempted, considering that there are about 90,000 Filipinos workers in Taiwan, it added.
Based on data gathered by APPM, 93 of the workers were laid off only on Monday by Coretronics in Taipei, with branches in Kaohsiung and Taichung; 261 were employed by GRPS manufacturer Garmin in Linkou, Taipei; 46 by Kingtech in Hsinchu; 44 by Syntech in Tainan; 173 by Hanstar in Kaohsiung; 87 by Optimax; and 120 by Promos.
The others are employed by Meiser in Hsinchu, 6; Monterey,27; Acme,11; Chroma,8; Hometec,6; and Gigasolution,11.
APPM said they have information that another big company plans to lay off OFWs by Dec. 16 - 17 even though their contract extend up to January or February next year.
It said the Philippine government should be on alert because some companies plan to slash their work force by 10 percent and to further cut cost by not shouldering the air fare of dismissed workers, with a promise to hire them again.
Taiwan, being heavily dependent on export, has been hard hit by the global economic crisis. To cut cost drastically, many companies are reportedly resorting to shifting and doing away with overtime. - D’Jay Lazaro
Comments