Japan Press Weekly

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2012 February 15 - 21 [LABOR]

Don’t close public-funded plant: JCP

The Japanese Communist Party in Oita Prefecture on February 17 visited a factory of a U.S. semiconductor manufacturer in Hiji Town, demanding retraction of its closure plan and the maintenance of all 515 workers.

The factory is owned by Texas Instruments Japan Ltd. (TI), a subsidiary of U.S. semiconductor maker Texas Instrument Inc.

The U.S. head office on January 23 announced the closure of the Hiji factory by June 2013. TI Japan president said that he will find a new operator to take over the plant and its workers by July this year.

In talks with a factory director, the JCP representatives questioned how the company recognizes its corporate social responsibilities, pointing out that the opening of the factory was funded by Oita Prefecture.

JCP prefectural assembly member Tsutsumi Eizo said that the closure plan has given anxiety to 146 workers in Hiji Town and 233 workers in Beppu City as well as their families.