TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's industry minister held talks with business leaders Thursday, urging them to avoid cutting jobs as they cope with the global financial crisis.
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai said job security has become "a major political issue," and urged 13 company leaders to do their utmost to maintain their work force.
"Your cooperation is indispensable," he said, addressing growing public fears of job cuts as Japanese companies struggle to survive and make daily headlines with layoffs and production adjustments.
The global slump has affected Japan's export-driven economy, which depends heavily on overseas demand for its cars and gadgets to fuel growth.
"I'm afraid certain level of (job cuts) are unavoidable under the current economic conditions," Mitsubishi Electric Corp. President Tamotsu Nomakuchi, told reporters after the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by the presidents of Toshiba Corp. and Sharp Co. and other manufacturers including Nippon Steel Corp. and brewery Kirin Holdings Co. Discussions largely focused on trade, environment and tax issues, said ministry official Yuji Iida.
Sony Corp. this week announced plans to slash 8,000 workers, or 4 percent of its global payroll, in Japan's biggest job cuts since the U.S. credit crunch hit this summer.
The government has been compiling measures to curb the impact of ongoing restructuring at companies, which so far have largely targeted part-time workers.
Nikai said Tuesday that his ministry planned to set up some 100 "job cafe" outlets across the country to support job seekers. He urged local governments to shift more of the budget to employment programs.
The government has also launched a program to help small businesses obtain loan guarantees more easily and stay in business, Nikai said.
Japan's main labor group Japan Trade Union Confederate on Wednesday released results of a November survey of labor unions nationwide that showed one in three Japanese manufacturing companies have slashed jobs and reduced working hours in the past three months. The survey found 40 percent of companies expected similar adjustments in coming months.
