8-K

===========================================================================

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                    -----------------------------------



                                  FORM 8-K

                               CURRENT REPORT

                   PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                    -----------------------------------



DATE OF REPORT:       NOVEMBER 6, 1998

DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED:    NOVEMBER 6, 1998

                        GENERAL SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     DELAWARE                     1-5442                    13-3575653
 (State or other         (Commission File Number)        (I.R.S. Employer
 jurisdiction of                                      Identification Number)
incorporation or 
  organization)

                           10 MELVILLE PARK ROAD
                          MELVILLE, NEW YORK 11747

                  (Address of principal executive offices)




REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:  (516) 847-3000





Item 5. Other Events.
        -------------

     On November 6, 1998, the registrant issued the press release filed as
Exhibit 99.1 hereto.


Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
        ----------------------------------



              Exhibit         Description
              -------         -----------


               99.1           Press Release issued November 6, 1998





                                 SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on behalf of the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



     Dated: November 6, 1998


                                          GENERAL SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.


                                          By: /s/ Andrew M. Caggia
                                             -----------------------------
                                             Andrew M. Caggia
                                             Senior Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer





                               EXHIBIT INDEX



              Exhibit         Description
              -------         -----------


               99.1           Press Release issued November 6, 1998

EX-99.1

                                                               Exhibit 99.1


                  [GENERAL SEMICONDUCTOR, INC. LETTERHEAD]


FOR IMMEDITE RELEASE                                    CONTACT: Pam Jameson
                                                              (516) 847-3169

               GENERAL SEMICONDUCTOR ANNOUNCES RESTRUCTURING

                   Expects Earnings Improvements in 1999



MELVILLE, NY (November 6, 1998)--General Semiconductor, Inc. (NYSE:SEM), a
leading manufacturer of discrete semiconductors, today announced that it is
undertaking a restructuring designed to further improve the Company's
positioning and financial results in the continued difficult environment
that exists in the semiconductor industry.

The restructuring, which will include overhead reductions and structural
changes designed to enhance operating performance, will result in a pretax
charge of up to $14 million in the fourth quarter of 1998, or $10 million
($0.27 per share) after tax. Earnings expectations before restructuring
charges in the fourth quarter remain on target.

"We continue to be pleased with our strong financial performance in these
difficult times," stated Ronald A. Ostertag, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer. "Our business fundamentals remain in place and we continue to
pursue our growth strategy. This restructuring activity is consistent with
our philosophy of continual improvement and will allow us to increase
service to our customers, enhance financial performance and strengthen our
ability to pursue the opportunities that lie ahead. With the increased cost
efficiencies that are intended to be achieved from the restructuring, 1999
earnings per share could increase materially over 1998 despite the
Company's expectation of continued price pressures," he added.

Restructuring activities will begin immediately and are expected to be
fully implemented in the first half of 1999.

General Semiconductor, Inc. is a market leader in the discrete segment of
the semiconductor industry with manufacturing facilities in China, France,
Germany, Ireland, Taiwan and the United States. The Company provides
customers with a broad array of power rectifiers, transient voltage
suppressors and small signal transistors and diodes. It has a diversified
customer base, in terms of geography and end-use markets. Customers include
leading manufacturers, located around the globe, of consumer electronics,
lighting, telecommunications equipment, computers, automotive and
automotive aftermarket products.

The information set forth above includes "forward-looking" information and,
accordingly, the cautionary statements contained in Exhibit 99 to the
Company's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission are incorporated herein by reference. General Semiconductor's
actual results could differ materially from the "forward-looking"
information in this press release.

         VISIT GENERAL SEMICONDUCTOR ON THE WEB AT www.gensemi.com