The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said the uptick in job seeker numbers was mostly seen in unskilled jobs and the services sector.
Official data showed that 102,000 people filed for unemployment benefits in April, a monthly increase of 9%, with the coronavirus outbreak having forced 670,000 people out of work by the end of April, up 270,000 from March.
There was also a surge of 20% in April regarding those who have had their jobs temporarily suspended but the situation has started to improve in May as people have begun to look for jobs since social distancing rules were lifted.
According to the labour ministry, it has clamped down on the situation where some virus-hit enterprises laid off their older workers illegally so as to benefit from the government’s relief package.
The ministry also asked local authorities to discourage afflicted workers from applying for lump-sum insurance payments, which would deprive them of social security benefits upon retirement.
