Toyota to pay overtime linked to 'voluntary' work

Friday 23rd May, 07:00 AM JST

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10 Comments

outofmydepth at 07:50 AM JST - 23rd May

the meaning of the word "volunteer" in japanese is ENTIRELY different than the explanation in an english dictionary. can you honestly imagine that poor man from toyota "volunteering" all those extra hours in the month before his death from overwork.
borscht at 07:59 AM JST - 23rd May

Also, if you ask some one to 'volunteer' in Japan their next question is 'How much will I get paid?' so the word has changed meanings since being imported.

It's nice that Toyota has decided to pay their employees for their work. And it only took one court case and one acknowledged death.
LFRAgain at 08:55 AM JST - 23rd May

Hmm... The McDonald's Japan decision to start paying overtime to its management, as cockeyed as the plan actually turned out to be, may have had a positive effect after all. We'll see...

In the meantime, my girlfriend's entire office is showing up to work this Sunday to make sure they're up to date on some "comliance" issues within the company before they have to submit documentation at the end of the month. No, this isn't part of the regular work week and this work doesn't get counted as overtime. It's "voluntary." And of course, everyone will show up.
thepro at 12:46 PM JST - 23rd May

Voluntary hah! I can't imagine a Japanese person not doing something at work if everyone else is doing it.
keshii at 04:11 PM JST - 23rd May

I'd like the reporter to look for how well these companies are paying for "volunteered overtime" in other countries, too. Believe me, it's not limited to Japan. Human rights violations get way worse than just what's mentioned on this page.
tclh at 08:29 PM JST - 23rd May

Ladies and gentlemen,"volunteer" in Japanese system ONLY means that you will be in various troubles later if you DARE NOT "volunteer".I am glad that Toyota now decides to pay people more.The world's consumers have been benefitting heaps and heaps from these "volunteer's" works over so many years.
Nessie at 09:27 PM JST - 23rd May

Volunteered overtime. Do it, or they'll voluteer you for unemployment.
jonobugs at 09:40 PM JST - 23rd May

Wow, talk about being worked to death! Literally.
ToughGuyBanker at 01:19 AM JST - 24th May

this is wrong. If you volunteer, you give your time away. Even if it's under pressure. anyone with a set of brass ones would not give their time away for free.

Japan needs to make sure that it can keep about 50% of its workforce meek and wimpy. This is why most males are emasculated and wear make up. We are the power structure in Japan, and we print the magazines that give them fashion tips on how to be losers. Only 1% - the top 1% - by birthright - mean anything in Japan. The rest can collect their 60,000 yen per months pensions, which won't be there when they retire anyway.
westurn at 04:53 PM JST - 28th May

Now we know "exactly" how Toyota has been able to be so competitive in the world marketplace ! Through slave labor ! "Voluntary overtime" ??? Are you serious ? Begs the question, why can't Toyota compete without forcing it's labor force to work for free ? There should be a worldwide boycott of Toyota till they correct this ! This is sweat-shop labor at it's worst... where is the international outcry ? I for one will not be buying anything from Toyota, I don't condone their unethical business practices one iota !