CANON TAKES ON 5,000 FULLTIME STAFF

[Anonymous]

Canon to take on 5,000 fulltime staff
The
Japanese high-tech giant Canon says it will make around 1,000 casual
workers into permanent fulltime staff, as it braces for the first wave
of baby boomer retirements.A company spokeswoman says over the next two
years, Canon will taken on around 5,000 permament staff, including
those drawn from its pool of casual workers, many of whom already work
full-time for the company.She says Canon will give temporary contracts
to another 2,500 casual workers, many of whom were hired through
employment agencies, and will also recruit 1,500 new graduates.

Canon says the move is necessary to stop its workforce from shrinking.
“Many
of our experienced workers are set to retire,” the spokeswoman
said.”Our employment plan should help us to retain skilled workers and
pass on the skills to new people.”Canon has been buffeted by a series
of critical media reports which accused the company of violating
employment laws by not offering adequate labour protection.Many
Japanese companies began hiring low-paid part-time workers in the 1990s
in a bid to cut costs amid an economic downturn.But with unemployment
now at an eight-year low of 4 percent, competition for skilled workers
is growing, exacerbated by older workers retiring.

[Author]

March 28, 2007 at 9:42 AM