Nikon plant workers get the sack

Thailand - Some 1,500 workers at Nikon's Thailand manufacturing sites have been laid off in an attempt to offset weak sales caused by slowing global demand.

Nikon said it terminated the workers because it had received far fewer orders from the US, Japan and Canada, the Bangkok Post said.

"All the dismissed workers are under subcontracts and have worked with the company for less than a year," it quoted Pongthai Musikapong of the Labour Protection and Welfare Office as saying.

Nikon's Thai unit has 8,000 permanent staff and approximately 4,000 subcontracted staff at its four factories in Ayutthaya. Nikon's job cuts follow others that have turned to the axe to ride out the current economic storm.

"It's increasingly drastic this year as there are now 348 companies who have laid off a total of 28,600 workers and we also think it is likely that a further 123 companies may lay off an estimated 56,000 workers," said Amporn Nitisiri, director general of the Labour ministry's labour protection and welfare department, as quoted in local media.