Panasonic Says Bringing Workers Families Home Due to Pandemic Fears - Discussion, Economic Considerations, Other Companies Pan/Flu Plans

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Panasonic to fly home workers' families over bird flu fears

TOKYO (AFP) – Panasonic Corp. has ordered Japanese employees in some foreign countries to send their families home to Japan in preparation for a possible bird flu pandemic, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Family members of Japanese employees in parts of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, former Soviet states and Latin America will fly back to Japan by the end of September, Panasonic spokesman Akira Kadota said.

The firm decided to take the rare measure "well ahead of possible confusion at the outbreak of a global pandemic," he said.

Eight people have contracted the H5N1 bird flu virus in China alone this year -- five of whom died.

"The bird flu cases reported so far are infections from bird to human, but once an infection between human beings is reported, things can get chaotic with many other companies trying to bring back their employees," Kadota said.

"We wanted to take action early before it gets difficult to book flight tickets," he said.

The company did not say how many family members would return to Japan. Employees and their families in North America, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore will not be affected.

The H5N1 strain of the virus that is most dangerous to humans first emerged in Asia in 2003 and has since caused nearly 250 deaths, according to World Health Organisation figures.

Bird flu, or avian influenza, kills mainly birds but scientists fear it could mutate to jump from human to human, sparking a global pandemic.

Panasonic said last week it was cutting 15,000 jobs and closing dozens of plants worldwide as it braces to fall deep in the red due to the global economic crisis.

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rs...m/s/afp/20090210/hl_afp/healthflujapancompany

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Rounding up all these employees and taking them back to Japan will also mean they spend their earnings in Japan - perhaps providing a little assistance to the falling economy at home. 15,000 paychecks spent in-country prior to any layoffs would be a cash infusion.

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[gsgs]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

that would be a government issue then, not a company issue.

But we heard nothing from the government, nor from other
companies.
The decision is from Dec.2008 but only public today.

They claim they did their own research to come to that decision.

Where/when did Panasonic do flu-research ? Just reading papers ?
How can they come to other conclusions than WHO,government,
other companies then ? Why do they keep it secret ?

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

If the government funds family returns under the umbrella of pandemic preparation, then Panasonic's layoff costs are reduced. That makes less depressing Panasonic balance sheet.

However, Japan is clearly pro-active regarding pandemic preparation.

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[Commonground]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Panasonic Orders Some Families Home on Pandemic Risk (Update1)

By Kanoko Matsuyama and Pavel Alpeyev
Feb. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Panasonic Corp., the world?s largest maker of consumer electronics, ordered Japanese employees in several emerging markets to send their families back to Japan on concern of a potential influenza pandemic.
The company in December instructed staff assigned to parts of Asia, Africa, eastern Europe and South America to repatriate their families by September, Akira Kadota, a spokesman for Osaka- based Panasonic, said by telephone today. He declined to comment on the number of employees or households affected.
Panasonic said last week it will cut about 15,000 jobs and report a loss this year. More than half of the company?s 209 subsidiaries outside Japan as of April 2008 were in the Asia- Pacific region.
?It?s a bit of a surprise,? said Naoteru Teraoka, who helps oversee $21 billion at Chuo Mitsui Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. ?I would understand if there was a sudden outbreak that warranted concern, but there don?t seem to be any recent developments.?
Panasonic may be the first major company to order families home on concern people wouldn?t receive needed health care in case of a widespread flu outbreak. A pandemic could kill 71 million people worldwide and lead to a ?major global recession? costing $3 trillion, according to a worst-case scenario outlined by the World Bank in October.
?This is part of our preparations for a new type of influenza,? Kadota said by telephone. ?We chose areas after considering the prevalence of bird flu, and the capability of medical facilities and access to them. This is not part of the cost cutting.?
Singapore Staff Spared
The world is closer to another influenza pandemic than at any time since 1968, when the last of the previous century?s three pandemics occurred, according to the World Health Organization.
The company has been reviewing how to handle a pandemic, and decided to repatriate families after consulting Japan?s government and the Geneva-based WHO, Kadota said.
Honda Motor Corp., Japan?s second-biggest carmaker, considered bringing home families of expatriates in China after a woman in Beijing infected with bird flu died on Jan. 5, said Hideto Maekawa, a spokesman for the company. The carmaker has advised employees to cut down on ?unnecessary and non-urgent? business trips, he said.
Panasonic isn?t concerned about any single country more than others, and Singapore staff won?t be affected by the repatriation, he said. The Nikkei newspaper reported the plans earlier.
International health officials have been monitoring the H5N1 strain of avian influenza for more than a decade for signs it could mutate into a form that is easily spread between humans. H5N1 has infected at least 406 people in 15 countries since 2003, killing 63 percent of them, according to the WHO?s Web site. The organization lists 11 cases of the virus in humans this year.
Panasonic shares added 0.9 percent to 1,130 yen. The stock plunged 52 percent last year.
To contact the reporter on this story: Kanoko Matsuyama in Tokyo at kmatsuyama2@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: February 10, 2009 02:44 EST

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601204&sid=aMTBGqYHJE4M&refer=technology

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

I suspect the move is more easily explainable in the perspective of costs-cutting strategies.

Europe and North America will be hit by an influenza pandemic as other world's regions.

No reasons to believe that Japanese people would be more safe in London than in Shanghai.

When a mass-casualties event strikes, urban conglomerates with tens of millions of people such as London, New York, Paris, Rome, Mexico City would not represent a more safe haven, since the inhabitants density is so high that disruptions, riots, food and water shortage cannot be excluded at all.

How to explain this move?

It is Another step toward total meltdown of capitalistic market.

1929-like move...

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Panasonic.....decided to repatriate families after consulting Japan?s government and the Geneva-based WHO,

Honda.....considered bringing home families of expatriates in China..... The carmaker has advised employees to cut down on ?unnecessary and non-urgent? business trips.

Interesting that Honda should be contemplating the same issues.

.

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

One thing is certain: Panasonic move doesn't increase confidence in a prompt economic recovery...

...they put also a further thing in the mind of consumer: why should we purchase products (with credit cards) if in few months there will be a complete collapse of economy, societies...

A 1929-like move... with all the consequences...

 

[gsgs]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

This is not part of the cost cutting.

This is part of our preparations for a new type of influenza,



chat ?

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

One thing is certain: Panasonic move doesn't increase confidence in a prompt economic recovery...

...they put also a further thing in the mind of consumer: why should we purchase products (with credit cards) if in few months there will be a complete collapse of economy, societies...

A 1929-like move... with all the consequences...

Whether pandemic precautions or economic strategy, or both, in "westerns" we'd say they're "circling the wagons". ie., bringing the wagons into a defensive circle.

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[mixin]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

I'll come to chat, maybe others will come as they see this.

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Just beating the rush. Sept will be too late in my opinion.

 

[Commonground]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Genworth Financial Announces Fourth Quarter 2008 Results

Monday February 9, 4:59 pm ET

Excerpt:

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "will," or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the company's future business and financial performance. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially due to global political, economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors and risks, including the following:

Risks relating to the company's businesses, including adverse capital and credit market conditions, downturns and volatility in equity and credit markets, downgrades in the company's financial strength or credit ratings, the impact of government actions on the financial markets, the company's ability to access current and future government support programs, interest rate fluctuations, the valuation of fixed maturity, equity and trading securities, defaults, downgrades or impairments of portfolio investments, goodwill impairments, the soundness of other financial institutions, the company's ability to access sources of liquidity, declines in risk-based capital, insufficiency of reserves, legal constraints on dividend distributions by subsidiaries, intense competition, availability and adequacy of reinsurance, defaults by counterparties, loss of key distribution partners, regulatory restrictions on the company's operations and changes in applicable laws and regulations, legal or regulatory investigations or actions, the failure or any compromise of the security of the company's computer systems, and the occurrence of natural or man-made disasters or a pandemic;
-snip-

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

CG - I moved 3 of your posts onto their own threads.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

If the government funds family returns under the umbrella of pandemic preparation, then Panasonic's layoff costs are reduced. That makes less depressing Panasonic balance sheet.

However, Japan is clearly pro-active regarding pandemic preparation.

.

The pull back is on families, not workers and only in countires with questionable health care.

This is not an economic issue.

It is a wake up call.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Some background information:


?Auto, semiconductors and machinery -- Japan?s three biggest industries -- have been suffering huge shocks,? Momma said. Factory production fell a record 9.6 percent in December.


Plunging sales abroad have caused inventories to build up, meaning output is unlikely to recover ?until mid-2009 or later this year,? he said. ?Even this forecast hinges on how the global economy will improve and uncertainty is high.?


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=ak9_jfo7oKww&refer=japan



Japan February 4, 2009, 8:47AM EST
Huge Recession-Fighting Cuts at Panasonic

<!--/HEADLINE--> <!--DECK--> To combat discouraging quarterly earnings, the Japanese consumer electronics giant will lay off 15,000 workers and close 27 plants



story at:

http://www.businessweek.com/globalb...op+news_top+news+index+-+temp_global+business

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

hat tip H5N1 Blog -


Panasonic loses its corporate cool

If great corporate minds can't do any better than this, no wonder we're toppling into a depression. Via Bloomberg.com: Panasonic orders expat families home on concern of flu pandemic. Excerpt:

Panasonic Corp., the world?s largest maker of consumer electronics, told Japanese employees in several emerging markets to send their families back to Japan on mounting concern about a potential influenza pandemic.​

The company in December instructed staff assigned to parts of Asia, Africa, eastern Europe and South America to repatriate their families by September, Akira Kadota, a spokesman for Osaka- based Panasonic, said by telephone today. He declined to comment on the number of households affected.​

Panasonic, which said last week it will cut about 15,000 jobs and report a loss this year, may be the first major company to order families home on concern people wouldn?t receive needed health care in case of a widespread flu outbreak.​

A pandemic could kill 71 million people worldwide and lead to a ?major global recession? costing more than $3 trillion, according to a worst-case scenario outlined by the World Bank in October.​

If Panasonic knows that a pandemic will break out next October, it would be considerate of them to share their knowledge. And if Japan's health care system is more prepared for such a pandemic than we are, it would be sweet of Tokyo to let us know their secrets. After all, we'd have six months to get ready.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

hat tip H5N1 Blog -


Panasonic loses its corporate cool

And if Japan's health care system is more prepared for such a pandemic than we are, it would be sweet of Tokyo to let us know their secrets. After all, we'd have six months to get ready.

Japan's "secret" was disclosed almost a year ago

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04180803/H5N1_Pre_Pandemic_Japan.html

You can lead or horse to water, but............

 

[Commonground]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

The Japanese representative "PANASHOKKU"

February 9, 2009

Larger companies in China INFURU bird is trembling with fear

Representative for Asia, has sent to the Panasonic, I started to return to Japan has been accompanied to the local family. As part of a new flu pandemic is a concern, it seems that policy decisions this year. Discussions quietly with the company to disclose the information has been implemented, the number of households and the number of unknown targets. However, the number of Japanese expatriates live in Shanghai and is the subject of the decision.

Panasonic is the only subsidiary in Asia with more than 120. Considering the convenience of home or business, and the return time is determinate individual. There also may be time to prepare for the transfer of the child and finding housing in Japan and September are the implementation of MEDO.

Number of deaths in China over the last year

Many Japanese companies from 2008, the implementation of such measures as training and business continuity planning. The companies decided to move the family to return home first and found the Panasonic.

In the background, may have more time than ever to worry about the epidemic of avian flu in Asia regions.

In China this year have been from bird flu almost every day. February 3 is the number of infections this time 8. Up to five people dead, the death toll for the year 2008 already exceed four people. South from the Northeast, which also spread to the western region.

[continued with subscription: hat-tip: http://tinyurl.com/abur8u]

So far, so-called pandemic (epidemic) will lead to human infection has not been reported, World Health Organization (WHO) set the warning level, no human infections between humans and "Phase 3" with .

The growing sense of fear that persists in this "highest risk" because they are. In China, a total of around 20 at the end of Chinese New Year period to be over one billion people to move. And more opportunities to cook the dish for New Year Toricelli live more vulnerable to infection than usual. In addition, the time overlap with the migratory birds to transmit the virus south.


Honda also temporary "home" to consider

Therefore, measures are under water in many companies other than Panasonic. Honda and early January that it was dead in the Chaoyang District, Beijing, Japanese companies have a number of measures to be considered a representative part of the family home. But failed to implement, no trip is not urgent warning to refrain from and is continuing. They can open a ticket for the flight to be able to return to Japan during the first epidemic, "sent to all employees of the mask from Japan" (TRADING Representative) and cases of emergency measures by the company It is different.

Japanese companies operating in the strong sense of what others do, the decision to review the Panasonic is a bold decision and prevent the risk of infection to the family. On the other hand, "the UCHI Then a new cost-cutting measure" epidemic "does not concern" (another electronics company representative) has also been voiced.

Increasingly in Asia and the surging waves of economic slowdown, fears of avian flu entanglement, which is amplified and uncertainty.

* Images are summarized in the spread of conditions in China. Check the URL below recommended
http://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/topics/20090205/185109/

 

[tropical]

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

Re: Panasonic To Send Workers families home

#18/26/35/38

Seems to me that this can be realy an sign to worry on.


The Japanese eficacy probably got 2 flies at once: the cutting jobs because of the world markets colapse ruined the real economy, and the now more real pandemic treat.
Also, the corporations drive the economy, so it would be the first to realy change/do something to not loose more in such an event.
That's why such corporations behaviour must point to something, when they admit it have an link to an possible pandemic also.

Why now?

Maybe this ongoing changed resistant seasonal flu in Taiw./Ch./Jap... demonstrated the speed, and more the organizational dificulties.

As somebody point (gs I think), why retract only from one part of the world when the pandemic overwhelm everywhere, maybe because of market ties already more strong there, or maybe because for the "dumped" countries somebody suppose that would be more chaos in an pandemic event, and than, it would be impossible to leave it with a family.

Implicitely, this events corroborate the Dr. Niman suggested possibility that indeed AH5N1 have great possibilities to became more resistant, and more spreadable now.

If the above is near the true, than this thread is a scoop, an breaking news indeed.

The mute spectactorial reaction from WHO and the other estab sites can be dualistic.

As wroted in other threads, they would wait to the last minute to see if the agent would be stopped.
Additionaly, the ones who didn't prepare any prepandemic vacc. for their citizens, would remains even more mute, until it would be obvious for every citizen than the ghost is irreversible out of the bottle.

If their mutism can be interpretated as a precaution, and an "no chicken little alarmism", why they didn't publicly at least refresh their epidemic outbreak informations on the recent changed human seasonal flu H1N1 outbreak in some Asia countries?

Maybe we enter the few years ago wroted possibility (when an pandemic became more possible to start) of an instaurated "media blanket" of the events, and than an watching of the spreading and it's appearance from the Swiss coordination place from a dedicated bunker ...


P.S.
I miss earlier this thread thinking it was on economy (and than the name give the summary).
Maybe to change this thread name in:
"Japan Pandemic preparations - Panasonic To Send Workers families home"