Taiwan slash jobs for foreign workers

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TAIPEI, April 5 (AFP): Taiwan has cut the number of foreign workers and maids working on the island by 24,000 since November, as a result of the global economic slowdown, it was reported today.
As of February, there were 349,000 foreign workers and maids in Taiwan, largely from Southeast Asia, compared with 373,000 in November, the Economic Daily News reported, citing the Council of Labour Affairs.
The number of foreign labourers is expected to drop further in the coming months, with 30,000 to be sent home this year, the council has announced.
The move comes as Taiwan's unemployment rate rose to a record high of 5.75 per cent in February on business downsizing and closures amid a recession, the government said.
But the council expected the cut in foreign workers would be slowed, after the manufacturing sector showed signs of improvement with many high-tech firms receiving large orders from China.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world's largest contract chipmaker, has announced it is canceling unpaid leave from April 1 to meet the Chinese orders.