Sharp Corp. said on Dec. 12 it planned to cut 380 domestic jobs due to the economic downturn as it revamps production of liquid crystal display (LCD) screens. "We are not renewing current contracts with about 380 dispatch workers as we are restructuring the production of LCD panels," company spokeswoman Miyuki Nakayama said.
Sharp will close production lines at two plants in western Japan that make small-sized LCD panels often used for mobile phones and computers, she said. , Sharp said there was a glut of LCD panels on the market so the company wanted to "streamline our existing LCD panel production plants."
Japanese manufacturers have announced thousands of layoffs in recent weeks, mostly of contract or temporary workers, in response to falling exports and the first recession in the country for seven years.
Electronics bellwether Sony Corp. this week said it was cutting more than 8,000 regular jobs and the same number of temporary or contract posts.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said the government would ask companies "not to dismiss temporary workers so easily" and to "be cautious and consider other options when they plan to cut jobs for regular workers."
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2008
