Fewer workers, higher wages hurting Japan Inc
Tokyo
ASK the president of Japan's largest daycare chain what his biggest headache is, and Kazuhiro Ogita doesn't hesitate: workers and wage costs. Not enough of one, too much of the other.
Unable to hire enough employees to staff its nurseries at a time of strong demand, JP-Holdings Inc is paying more overtime and bringing in part-time workers to fill shifts. That's eating into its bottom line - a trend seen across Japan's labour intensive industries, from delivery companies to restaurants and even the 400,000-employee postal system.
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