Taiwan and Germany
Labour shortages are proving to be a worldwide blight on
the IT manufacturing industry.
Digitmes is reporting that Taiwan-based notebook
component suppliers are reportedly suffering from labour shortages as
workers
return home for the holidays . All this is happening while orders are
increasing. Apparently it is traditional in Taiwan for suppliers are
already facing a lack of manpower in September, especially in the
chassis and
connector segments, however this year it is worse.
Wanshih Electronic, High-Tek Harness, Shin Zu Shing (SZS)
and Foxlink have all confirmed labour shortages. This is forcing
manufacturers to change their shipment forecasts for September due to
suppliers' inability to deliver products. Several companies have
started improving their employee
rewards systems, and are working with schools in rural areas to take on
interns
to cover the gap. If demand continues to climb, the labour shortages
are
expected to become even more serious beyond the middle of the fourth
quarter, the
sources pointed out.
Meanwhile providers of photovoltaic (PV) system
installation service in Germany have to delay their work schedules or even
decline new orders because of a shortage of manpower, and this may affect
exports of solar cells and PV modules to the country from Taiwan- and
China-based makers in the fourth quarter. These PV system installation companies in Germany earlier
this year downsized their manpower to cope with the economic downtun, the
sources said. Although demand is growing, they are not expanding their
workforce due to an uncertain outlook for the market in 2010, the sources
indicated.