Loading
Search
▼ More Convenience Store Operators Eye Shorter Hours, Closures For Holidays
- Category:Shopping
TOKYO - Japan's major convenience store operators are exploring reduced holiday hours amid a labor shortage and rising public awareness about overwork issues, with Seven-Eleven Japan Co and Lawson Inc closing some of their outlets on New Year's Day as an experiment to gauge consumer reaction.
Seven-Eleven will close about 50 convenience stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area on Wednesday and shorten business hours on Thursday and Friday during Japan's three-day New Year holidays.
But the experiment will not involve any outlets run by franchise owners. Some who have been critical of Seven-Eleven's 24/7 operation policy as enforced in the franchise contract are expected to close their stores for the holiday without the company's approval.
A labor union representing such franchisees submitted a petition to Seven-Eleven last week, seeking permission for owners to set their own hours on a flexible basis given the low sales volume around the holiday and the difficulty of meeting staffing requirements.
Uncertainty surrounding the 24/7 operation policy is set to continue into the new year, as Seven-Eleven has terminated a contract with a franchise operator in western Japan who has been closing his store in the early morning hours and demanded a holiday on New Year's Day.
Mitoshi Matsumoto, whose store is located in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture, said he is considering filing a suit against the company, probably in early January.
His dispute with the Japanese retail giant prompted more franchise store operators to express concern about overwork amid a labor crunch.
Meanwhile, Lawson will close 102 outlets operated by franchise owners on New Year's Day after past data showed only a small number of customers on the holiday.
Some franchise owners will also close their stores on Tuesday and Thursday as part of a trial to help inform the company's decision making in 2021 and beyond.
FamilyMart Co, another major convenience store operator, is taking a different approach to address the labor shortage and complaints by franchise store owners.
FamilyMart will allow franchise owners of 109 stores to take leave during the holidays while substitutes provided by the company keep the outlets running.
Apart from convenience stores, other sectors of the retail industry are also taking a hard look at their policies regarding business hours on New Year's Day.
Many department stores now close for the holiday and begin the year's sales on Jan. 2, a change from earlier practices which saw big sales on the first day of the year to draw crowds of shoppers.
Even some family restaurant chains are beginning to shut down their outlets during the New Year holidays. Skylark Holdings Co closes many of its restaurants from 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve until noon on New Year's Day.
© KYODO
- January 2, 2020
- Comment (546)
- Trackback(0)
Comment(s) Write comment
viagra cream online <a href="https://tabviagrleo.com/ ">over the counter viagra united states</a> viagra 100mg uk price
-
Jikagaima Web Site
- July 31, 2022
viagra samples australia [url=https://cialisamerica.com/#]viagra cialis online usa [/url] how long to take cialis before what is kamagra oral jelly used for
-
merck covid pill Web Site
- July 30, 2022
where to buy generic viagra <a href="https://vigrixvix.com/ ">sildenafil 20 mg discount</a> https://vigrixvix.com/
-
WeweBries Web Site
- July 30, 2022
naltrexone alcohol treatment <a href="http://reviaus.com/#">price of naltrexone </a> naltrexone 50mg bupropion sr 150mg where to buy naltrexone
-
synthroid 200 mcg Web Site
- July 29, 2022
Verapamil <a href="https://pharmregtop.com/ ">canadian pharmacy viagra reviews</a> https://pharmregtop.com/
-
AdfjAmows Web Site
- July 29, 2022
how much nolvadex [url=http://nolvadexusa.com/#]best place to buy nolvadex [/url] 4 weeks of nolvadex results how to use nolvadex
-
quineprox 60 Web Site
- July 27, 2022
steroids pct nolvadex <a href="https://nolvadexusa.com/#">brand tamoxifen </a> where can you get nolvadex what does nolvadex look like
-
doxylin Web Site
- July 26, 2022
buy real viagra online canada <a href="https://foxviagrixed.com/ ">viagra sales online</a> https://foxviagrixed.com/
-
Nbctgaima Web Site
- July 26, 2022
viagra from australia <a href="https://vigrixvix.com/ ">australia viagra price</a> https://vigrixvix.com/
-
WeweBries Web Site
- July 24, 2022
orlistat tablets <a href="http://xenical.icu/#">orlistat prescription online </a> where to buy xenical orlistat 120mg when will orlistat be available
-
ivermectin 6 Web Site
- July 23, 2022
walmart pharmacy cialis prices <a href="https://cialssis.com/ ">cialis or viagra</a> https://cialssis.com/
-
Jtfbjgaima Web Site
- July 20, 2022
ivermectin antidote <a href="https://ivermectin.beauty/#">ivermectin brand name </a> ivermectin oral dosage for goats how long until ivermectin tocixity symptoms start?
-
best metformin brand Web Site
- July 20, 2022
xenical online prescription <a href="http://xenical.icu/#">xenical cost in india </a> does orlistat bring down cholesterol what doctor prescribes xenical
-
quetiapine tabs cost Web Site
- July 18, 2022
dapoxetine and cialis <a href="https://xucialika.com/ ">buy cialis canadian</a> https://xucialika.com/
-
JyhbNulajagma Web Site
- July 17, 2022
Nexzgaima Web Site- August 1, 2022