Amid tariff threats, employment support program to be expanded: MOL

Taipei, April 30 (CNA) A program set up in March to support workers in three struggling sectors will be expanded to help people furloughed due to tariffs imposed by the United States, Labor Minister Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) said Wednesday.

The decision to expand the program was reached during a meeting of the "employment stabilization initiative advisory committee" earlier this month, Hung told reporters at the Legislative Yuan.

Hung said the MOL is currently working with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to determine which sectors should be included in the expanded program, with the decision to be based on the potential impact of the tariffs on each sector.

Funding for the expanded part of the program will come from the NT$15 billion (US$466.51 million) earmarked as part of a NT$93 billion relief package first announced on April 4 to mitigate economic shocks from the tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on April 2.

Those tariffs were later paused for 90 days, with most countries except for China facing a blanket import duty of 10 percent, but it remains unclear what the final tariff rate will be.

The original program, initiated on March 24, provides support to workers at companies that manufacture rubber products, machinery, or parts and components for vehicles who have been furloughed for at least 30 days.

Under the program, they are eligible to apply for a subsidy of up to NT$8,700 per month.

Once the program is expanded to cover tariff-affected sectors, applicants will have to meet three new eligibility criteria, Hung said.

They will have to work for a company registered with the International Trade Administration, present documented proof that their company has exported goods to the U.S. in the previous three years, and show that their company's exports have suffered due to the tariffs, Hung said.