Japanese firms to accept Thai employees

Japanese firms are set to accept employees from their affiliates in Thailand as part of a transfer of production activities affected by the flooding in that country.

The government announced an emergency measure on Friday that allows Japanese firms to transfer their Thai workers to Japan on a temporary basis.

Panasonic Electric Works decided to accept 25 Thai workers at two plants in Mie Prefecture, western Japan. Production of wiring devices at two of its plants in Thailand has been suspended due to flooding.

Aichi Steel, a member of the Toyota Motor group, welcomes the measure.

The company is training 5 Thai employees at its headquarters in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan. They are expected to work at a plant that the firm plans to open in Thailand next June.

Aichi Steel has an auto parts plant in Thailand. The firm was forced to reduce production after Toyota suspended operations at a plant in Thailand due to flooding.

The company says the government's program will facilitate the transfer and training of its Thai employees, many of whom are out of work due to reduced output at the Thai factory.

Saturday, October 29, 2011 16:06 +0900 (JST)