TAIPEI - THE Taiwan government is considering covering tuition for thousands of unemployed workers to encourage them to get training for new jobs, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Cabinet Minister Chen Tain-jy said that in response to the deepening economic downturn the government hopes to send at least 100,000 jobless people back to college for up to two years of intensive job training.

Taiwan's jobless rate hit a five-year high of 5 per cent in December - relatively low by Western standards, but alarming on the island, where nearly full employment has long been part of the social compact.

Mr Chen said more than 200,000 educated workers, especially those who had been employed in Taiwan's once-booming high-tech sector, have already lost their jobs.

Mr Chen warned that jobless situation could worsen appreciably in June when another 280,000 college graduates enter the work force. -- AP