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April 14, 2011. Japanese firm considers two-week shutdown due to power shortages

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

A leading Japanese electronics conglomerate said on April 14th it was considering a two-week shutdown of its company premises in Japan because of consistent power cuts mandated by the government in the midst of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crisis. The company said it was planning to give its employees two weeks off in the summer months to save energy. Firms already operating under government orders to reduce energy consumption fear that the country's power situation will only worsen in the summer months as demand for air conditioning peaks. The firm in question said it was considering moving forward several national holidays and to ask its staff to work extra days later in the year to make up for lost time. The March 11th 9.0-magnitude earthquake and attendant tsunami, as well as the nuclear power plant crisis that ensued, have had a major impact on Japanese manufacturers, with problems ranging from power cuts to parts shortages.