Sumitomo Metal promises not to impose transfers on workers

Sumitomo Metal Industries (SMI), an Osaka-based major steel maker, has said it "will not force its employees" to agree to be transferred to affiliate companies in order to carry out its restructuring plan which will cut 9,000 jobs.

On January 15 and 16, Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers visited the SMI Wakayama Works (Wakayama City) on a fact-finding mission and requested the management to stop transferring workers to other companies against their will.

In response, Takamura Koichi, the vice plant chief, replied, "There may have been such cases, but from now on we will make sure that no imposed transfers will take place.

As part of the SMI restructuring plan, the SMI Wakayama Works is to dismiss 3,400 employees who are now working at its affiliate companies. According to the plan, these workers will be re-hired by the same affiliate companies at 60 to 80 percent of present wages.

The JCP fact-finding team led by Ozawa Kazuaki (House of Representatives member) also met with the managements of SMI affiliate companies, unions, and workers. (end)