Nearly 8,000 employees were on leave without pay in March in Taiwan. The figure of 7,916 was up 26% over the previous month.
Labor Minister Hsu Ming-chun said on Monday that if the COVID-19 epidemic continues through the 3rd quarter, the number of workers on unpaid leave will pass 10,000. If it continues to the 4th quarter, the number could surpass 20,000 people.
Hsu said that the government is working on plans to provide assistance, including special loans to help the unemployed. The details of those plans will be made public in mid-April.