Fewer furloughed as restrictions easeStaff writer, with CNAThe number of workers on official furlough programs fell by more than 1,400 during the past week as the tourism sector received a boost from eased border controls, the Ministry of Labor said. Ministry-compiled data showed that the number of workers placed on furlough programs was 15,782 as of Monday, down 1,433 from 17,215 as of Oct. 31. With eased COVID-19 restrictions boosting domestic consumption, the number of workers placed on unpaid leave programs in retail and wholesale businesses fell to 1,315 from 1,556, the data showed. Most of the enterprises implementing furlough programs are small firms that employ fewer than 50 people. Unpaid leave programs typically last for less than three months, with employees taking five to eight days of unpaid leave per month, the ministry said.