PENANG, MALAYSIA – Several companies are taking steps ranging from freezing hiring to shortening their working weeks in response to lower demand for electronics, local officials say.

Agilent Technologies and Jabil Circuit will close their factories in Bayan Lepas between Christmas and New Year, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers northern branch chairman Datuk O.K. Lee said, according to published reports. Others are reducing their workweek from five days to four.

The Jabil holiday shutdown is typically one or two days, the report quoted an employee as saying.

Component packaging company ASE is shutting down for four days in November and December. Fairchild Semiconductor is closed Nov 21-24.

Officials and employees are citing lower export demand for the reduced hours. A reported 60% of the electronics goods produced in Malaysia are ticketed for the US.

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