Taipei: Netherlands-based semiconductor equipment supplier ASML Holding N.V. announced plans to hire an additional 1,000 people in Taiwan this year in response to growing demand from clients. Grace Wang, ASML vice president and ASML Taiwan general manager, revealed that the company had initially planned to recruit 600 employees, but the figure was revised upward due to increasing needs.

According to Focus Taiwan, ASML currently employs more than 4,500 individuals in Taiwan, comprising about 10 percent of its global workforce. The recruitment drive will focus on customer support, manufacturing, and supply chain roles to assist ASML clients in expanding operations and to enhance ASML's global production capacity.

ASML operates eight factories worldwide, with two located in Taiwan, specifically in Linkou in New Taipei and Tainan. A new facility is also under construction in New Taipei. ASML's Taiwan operations generate approximately 8.3 billion euros annually, accounting for about 25.5 percent of its global revenue. These operations focus on producing components and assembling advanced EUV machines for local clients.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is believed to be a major client, utilizing ASML's EUV lithography machines for high-end chip production. Wang emphasized Taiwan's role in ASML's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, highlighting the company's achievement of greenhouse gas neutrality for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 2025 and the use of 100 percent renewable energy in its Taiwan operations.

Taiwan has also contributed to ASML's circular economy initiatives, with over 130 pieces of equipment refurbished and nearly 10,000 parts repaired and reused since 2019. This supports the semiconductor industry's efforts to increase production capacity sustainably and efficiently.