Two car headlight makers put workers on furlough

Two car headlight makers put workers on furlough

2025-08-18

The US’ tariff hike on Taiwan products and the strengthening of the NT dollar have caused orders in the manufacturing sector to dry up. Already, two car headlight manufactures have buckled and furloughed 500 employees, according to the Ministry of Labor. Meanwhile lathe maker Takisawa Taiwan Technology has announced workers will not work on Fridays starting Aug. 22. Let’s hear more.

Chen Yen-lin
FTV reporter
Takisawa Taiwan Technology was once part of Taiwan’s face mask making team. The company has now announced that starting Aug. 22, employees will not work on Fridays. They’ll be off for three days a week for the next three months.

Voice of Huang Chi-ya
Ministry of Labor
The headlight manufacturers said they needed to reduce the work schedule of employees and put workers on furlough because they mainly export to the US and there has been a decrease in orders. So work hours have been cut and workers are staying home longer.

The Ministry of Labor says that between April 7 and Aug. 15 this year, 73 companies reduced hours and workdays in Taiwan due to pressure from the US tariffs. A total of 2,388 workers were affect, mostly in the manufacturing sector, and especially in the metal tools, plastics, orchids and fish industries.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#furlough #taiwan #tariffs #trump #trade #industry #economics

關稅.台幣升值雙重打擊車燈廠.車床廠休無薪假

2025-08-18

受到美國關稅及新台幣升值雙重打擊，製造業訂單急凍，已經有兩家車燈廠撐不住，通報實施無薪假，勞動部證實，合計500人。另外，車床廠「瀧澤科技」也發出公告，從8月22號起，每週五休假。

[[民視記者陳妍霖]]
“曾經是口罩國家隊、也是防疫英雄的「瀧澤科技」已經發出公告，從8月22號起，每個禮拜五都是固定休假日，等於是週休三天，一口氣實施3個月。”

[[聲源勞動部勞動條件及就業平等司長黃琦雅]]
“根據(車燈)廠商回報，他主要需要減班休息的原因，是因為他們的產品主要外銷美國，目前有訂單減少的狀況，所以必須要實施減班休息。”

勞動部統計，從今年4月7號到8月15號，受到美國關稅影響實施減班休息的，總共有73家，人數達2388人，幾乎都是製造業，金屬工具、塑膠、蝴蝶蘭、鬼頭刀都是受衝擊產業。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

Related News

8-year-old boy only survivor in hike with grandpa and friend

A hike on Mt. Kelekele’an went terribly wrong last week for a group of three hikers. An 8-year-old boy, his 70-year-old grandpa and a 63-year-old friend had set off on a 9-day expedition on Aug. 8. But they ended up stranded on the mountain on Aug. 12 due to Typhoon Podul. They set up camp but things only got worse. Four days after the typhoon, a call was made to rescuers, who dispatched a helicopter to bring them down. The two adults, however, were already in a coma due to hypothermia, and only the boy survived.

A rescuer carries an 8-year-old boy to the helicopter that has just landed in the mountain. His grandpa and another companion have already been loaded to be taken to the hospital.

Upon landing, the boy and rescuers run straight toward the ambulance. The two adults have to be carried on stretchers, as they had fallen into a coma due to hypothermia. Despite resuscitation efforts later at the hospital, they could not be saved.

Footage shows that the boy’s blue jacket was dry and clean when rescuers found him.

Voice of Chuang Chao-cheng
Nantou County Fire Department
He said their tent got a hole that night, and exposed them to the rain and wind, and so they held the tent down with their weight. But later the tent got blown down and they had to take shelter from the wind. That’s where he stayed for some time.

The boy said he hadn’t eaten anything while in hiding and only drank about 600ml of water.

Voice of Chuang Chao-cheng
Nantou County Fire Department
We asked him what they ate over the past few days, and he said he had some water and some sweets.

Who raised the alarm? The boy, or someone else?

Voice of Chuang Chao-cheng
Nantou County Fire Department
He didn’t know how to unlock his grandpa’s phone, so he called 119. There’s no signal in most places, but he apparently remembered his grandpa mentioning that there was a spot with signal, so he went to that spot.

The boy couldn’t unlock the phone, so his only option was an emergency call.

Experts say that weather conditions can change rapidly in the mountains, so if you’re going on a hike, make thorough preparations before heading out.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2025-08-18

Passengers question streamlined MRT display as potentially confusing

The marquee display boards on the Taipei MRT have often been a target of criticism for showing too much text, making it easy for passengers to miss their stop. The MRT operator recently made a slight change to the display, but now passengers are saying it might be too simplified. For instance, the “Xindian Line” is now just the “Green Line.” Critics say it misses the point, and now international travelers might get confused.

Before the train arrives at the station, information in Chinese and English scrolls by on the electronic display boards above the doors. For people immersed in their phones or listening to music, it’s hard to know the station at a glance. Especially when it’s crowded, it’s hard to see the signs inside the station. The situation has led to many complaints that it’s easy to miss your stop.

Passenger
Whenever I look up, it’s showing other information. I looked for a while, because I was waiting for the station name.

Passenger
No one will look at the information. You can say all you want, but what I need is the essential info. When it’s essential, I want to see it right away.

Kao Tzu-han
FTV reporter
The newly redesigned display is being trialed along the Orange Line, featuring shorter messages. But for transfer information, it now just shows the color of the line. Passengers worry it might be confusing.

Transfer information on the old display features the full name of the line, as well as some courtesy words, totaling 13 characters in all. The new message is much shorter, showing only the name of the stop with the color of the transfer line. Although it’s much simpler, passengers are worried that just saying the color might be confusing.

Passenger
For example, at this station we get a lot of travelers from Japan or other places who might not know how to make the transfer.

Passenger
When travelers come here for the first time, they navigate from their phone or online. So of course it won’t be very clear unless someone shows them.

Passenger
Now there are maps everywhere. It’s very convenient. No matter the line, there are maps to look at.

The MRT said it will collect public feedback during the trial period for the simplified transfer message, and continue to make adjustments before deciding whether to roll it out system-wide.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Taipei #MRT #TaipeiMRT #displayboard #travel #commute #publicopinion #traintransfer #tourists

2025-08-18

Heavy metals found in all goji berry products sampled in survey

2025-08-18

Improved camera helps detect gutter blockages within 8m

2025-08-18

A highly rare pure white swallow is spotted in Tongluo Township

2025-08-18

Rolling daylily fields draw visitors to Hualien’s own ‘mini Switzerland’

2025-08-18

Paddleboarders dress up for journey out to Keelung Island

Water sports in Taiwan are getting more popular by the day. For three years running, a group has organized a stand-up paddleboard journey out to Keelung Island. For many, the event has become an annual pilgrimage. Lots of participants will even dress up in eye-catching costumes. But safety is still the priority—no matter the costume, everyone needs to use the safety leash.

At the sound of the whistle, people take up their paddleboards and file onto the water. They’re setting off on a stand-up paddleboard trip out to Keelung Island and back.

Participant
It’s amazing, incredible. People don’t really go to the beach in Taiwan, so it’s basically empty. It’s great.

Mr. Wu
Participant
It’s very calm out there today. Without wind or waves, it’s extremely safe. If the waves are too big, you might run into reefs and it could be dangerous.

The participants also had fun dressing up. Aside from the usual bikinis, this person dressed up as a Playboy bunny. There was even a Ronald McDonald.

Mr. Chuang
Participant
I’m just a regular attendee. No one wants to take my picture. I need to do something a little more special, then there will be lots of photos. Everyone takes this sport so seriously. You need a fun atmosphere where you can let off some steam.

Participant
The first time I was Uncle Ronald McDonald! But by the second time I was already just uncle.

For a water activity like SUP, more important than the costume contest is safety. This ankle leash is the lifeline for any paddleboarder.

Mr. Chang
Organizer
The SUP board is 20 times the size of the rescue buoy used during the Sun Moon Lake swim. Even if five people climb on, it won’t sink. As long as you don’t leave your board, you’ll be safe. So the ankle leash is our lifeline, even more important than a lifejacket.

This activity where people can stay safe while having fun out on the open water is the brainchild of two water sports enthusiasts, who hope that they can get people to experience a different side of the ocean and foster a love for the sea.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53
#SUP #standuppaddleboard #Keelung #KeelungIsland #ocean #watersport #costumecontest #dressup

2025-08-18

140-year-old Japanese tempura restaurant opens Taipei pop-up

2025-08-18

YouTubers fined NT$10,000 for releasing sky lantern from train tracks

The sky lantern experience on Pingxi Old Street in New Taipei is a tourist must-do that’s said to make your wishes come true. You’ve probably also seen pictures of tourists cheerfully make their wishes upon a sky lantern from the train tracks. But turns out that’s actually illegal, and there are signs along the tracks warning visitors against the practice. A husband-and-wife travel content creator ended up getting fined NT$10,000 after someone saw their video and reported them. They’ve since made another video to urge others to take caution.

They take pictures next to the railway tracks, as sky lanterns are set to the skies. Tourists flock to Pingxi for the experience. But they have to be careful to not break the law.
The creators of caitaitai945, a travel YouTube channel, took the whole family of four to release a sky lantern on Pingxi Old Street in New Taipei and even made a video. However, the cherished memory ended up costing them NT$10,000. Turns out someone who saw the video reported them for releasing a sky lantern on the railway tracks, which is prohibited.

caitaitai945
YouTuber
The government keeps promoting the sky lantern experience as a tourist must-do, and how this place is very special and suitable for all visitors, domestic and international alike. Even CNN did a report on it. People aren’t aware that releasing a sky lantern from the train tracks is illegal.

The husband and wife said they were shocked when they received the hefty fine. Soon after that, they made a follow-up video to caution others from making the same mistake.

A quick look of Pingxi Old Street shows many visitors releasing sky lanterns while standing on the railway tracks, despite “No Entry” signs. The Chinese also says that according to the Railway Act, trespassers could be fined between NT$10,000 to NT$50,000.

Member of public
Safety is more important, so we’re not against the ban.

Member of public
I think it’s more traditional and feels more authentic and quaint to do it on the tracks. But if it might cause traffic accidents, then I also think visitors should decide for themselves.

Local business
Sky lantern seller
If there’s an accident on the tracks, it has nothing at all to do with sky lanterns. What we do is we tell customers to wait until the train has passed, and then we’ll go down to the tracks.

The seller insists that no accidents have ever happened because they had customers release sky lanterns from the tracks. But now that they’re made aware that the practice is illegal, they could only comply with regulations.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#psa #goodtoknow #pingxi #skylantern #taiwantravel

2025-08-18

HK tourist drives scooter into sea at Green Island snorkeling spot

2025-08-18