Silicone heavyweights TSMC and UMC are reportedly considering several plans to trim operating costs, ranging from plain layoffs to reorganizing schemes.

According to Xinhua Finance, TSMC is trying to reduce expenses by 20 percent. It will either lay off a number of employees, or force them to take unpaid leave. UMC has already told sme of its workers that under a new work schedule they'll work just four days in a week. It plans to reduce operating costs by 15 to 20 percent.

TSMC says it's considering a number of solutions to reduce costs, although it's not going into detail. UMC claims it has no plance to encourage workers to take unpaid leave, at least not this year.

More here.