Japanese Cos turning to part-timers to cut costs
TOKYO: With Japan's economy stuck in its deepest rut in decades, employers
who used to guarantee jobs for life are now turning more to part-time
workers to cut costs, a report said on Sunday.
During the fiscal year that ended March 31, companies surveyed by the labour
ministry said they employed 1 per cent fewer full-time workers but 3 per
cent more part- time workers than they did the previous year, quasi-public
broadcaster NHK reported.
It was the second straight year for the number of full-timers on the
payrolls of Japanese companies to fall, and the ninth year for the number of
part-timers to rise, NHK said.
Recession has put pressure on employers in the world's second- largest
economy to trim their payrolls and give up the custom of guaranteeing
workers a job for life.
The labour ministry compiled the data by surveying 33,000 enterprises with
five or more employees, it said.
NHK did not give a margin of error or other details about the survey. No one
was available at the labour ministry to comment on Sunday. (AP)
For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
|Disclaimer|
For comments and feedback send Email
© Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2000.