Japan - Insurer to turn contract workers into full-time

A major Japanese life insurer will turn all of its contract workers into regular employees starting next fiscal year.

Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company says the plan will involve about 2,500 contract employees tasked with handling calls from customers and clerical work.

Officials say they will be given regular status in principle from fiscal 2021, if they wish.

Those who become regular employees will assume other tasks, such as in-person consultation services for elderly policyholders.

The company says they will see their annual income rise by 10 percent or so on average and will be entitled to retirement benefits.

Meiji Yasuda hopes to attract as many talented employees as possible by improving working conditions.

It is following in the footsteps of its rival Nippon Life Insurance Company, which converted 3,300 contract workers to regular employees in 2018. Another insurer, Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, plans to give 2,000 contract workers regular status in July.


Source: nhk.or.jp