Japan's automakers step up job cuts

TOKYO: Japanese automakers Suzuki Motor Corp. and Daihatsu Motor Co. said on Monday they will get rid of more jobs for temporary-contract workers as demand slumps due to the global slowdown.

Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp., said it will cut 500 to 600 jobs for casual workers by the end of March.

"We've been making efforts to maintain jobs for people by reducing operations on holidays and overtime work, but that's not enough anymore," a company spokesman said.

Toyota on Monday forecast its first-ever operating loss for the year through March.

Suzuki said separately that it would cut 250 more jobs, bringing to 850 the total of job cuts announced since October.

Overseas, Suzuki earlier already announced plans to reduce its 5,500-workforce in Hungary by 1,200.