Nissan to Dismiss 780 Temp Workers in Japan

Tokyo, Oct 30, 2008; Japan's Nissan Motor Co. will dismiss 780 temporary workers provided by staffing agencies at two domestic factories for large vehicles shipped to the United States, company officials said Thursday.

The job cuts will start in December at its plants in Kanda, in the southwestern Fukuoka Prefecture, and Kaminokawa, Tochigi Prefecture, eastern Japan. The automaker will terminate the workers' contracts upon expiration, the officials said.

Nissan will take the step as it plans to trim its auto output at the two plants by an additional 65,000 units by next March, 20 to 30 pct less than previously planned, due to sluggish sales in the North American market.

The company's move indicates that the domestic employment situation is starting to be affected by slumping demand in North America amid the deeping financial crisis.

Nissan currently employs some 2,000 temporary workers in Japan.