Japan Press Weekly

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2008 August 20 - 26 [LABOR]

Fixed-term workers at Canon to receive 40,000-yen in lay-off compensation

Akahata has learned that about 8,900 fixed-term workers at Canon group companies will receive about 40,000 yen (about 370 US dollars) in lay-off compensation.

This move was in response to the request that Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo made to reduce difficulties facing fixed-term workers who are left without compensation during summer and year-end lay-off periods.

Shii made the request when he visited Nagahama Canon Inc. plant in Shiga Prefecture this past June. He said to Canon management, “Because fixed-term workers receive hourly wages, their incomes will decrease by tens of thousands of yen during the summer and year-end lay-off periods.”

Shii urged Senior Managing Director of Canon Inc. Moroe Akiyoshi to consider taking steps to help fixed-term workers under such circumstances.

Major Japanese corporations, including the world’s top automaker Toyota Motor Corp which uses about 8,000 fixed-term workers, do not have a system of compensation for non-full-time workers during lay-off periods.

Canon is a global manufacturer of cameras and optical products and its chairman is the president of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren). Its decision to pay lay-off compensation is likely to influence other large corporations.
- Akahata, August 24, 2008