Positive development for some Yazaki workers

By Ilia L. Likou 24 May 2017, 12:00AM

More than 200 employees of Yazaki Samoa will be retained through to October and then between 60 to 90 will continue working through to November 2017.

This was confirmed by President - Yazaki EDS Samoa Ltd and Managing Director — Australian Arrow Pty Ltd; Graig O'donohue, yesterday.

Based on their final customer schedules and delivery lead-time, YES will conclude its mainstream wire harness production on 18 August in order to meet the final shipping schedules currently planned to leave Samoa on 19 August.

“This will mean that work for a large number of YES associates will finish at that time where all severance payments will be paid and support programmes delivered to those affected commencing from August 25th,” he said. 

“We must however, be mindful, our customers 'last car’ production will continue through to October 3rd therefore, YES will need to retain a number of people to continue to support Toyota until at least that date.

“Then a further team will be retained to attend to the final factory wrap up and make good of our property that we expect to be completed on or before November 30 this year."

YES has been waiting to receive these final production schedules for some time to determine these dates with reliability to communicate with all associates which has been communicated today. 

“To confirm recent discussions with all YES associates at our last internal meeting on May 4 Yazaki Samoa has just this month received the final production order schedules from Toyota Camry manufactured in Australia,” he said.

“This required to meet their own production requirements following the announcement of their final build of the Australian made Toyota Camry manufactured in Australia as at October 3rd 2017.

“YES over these past two weeks carefully analyzed these final customer schedules such that we are now in a position to reliably share how this impacts the final YES production in meeting both our customer and Yazaki requirements through the phasing out of our manufacturing operations through the balance of 2017 as already declared on October 12 last year."

He believes that today's communication has provided an opportunity to deliver some very good news to the YES associates in recognition of the current level of performance and efforts that continue to be achieved within the Yazaki.

“YES has been providing all associates a broad range of training programs since January that have proved to be very successful and on track for completion over May & June."

 “The uptake and delivery of these programs with the valued support of our partners such as SBEC, APTC & NUS has well exceeded our expectations and, something never previously addressed at such a scale by any employer in Samoa. "

“In addition, all YES associates will additionally receive direct transition support in respect of resume support and engagement with potential future employers where possible in addition to reconfirmation of the significant and unprecedented financial support packages each associate will receive on conclusion of their employment with the company through to November 30th as explained." 

“The company will continue on a ‘business as usual’ basis in the interim and pleasingly will also look to celebrate numerous upcoming special milestones and recognitions over the coming months."

As noted, time of concluding mainstream production at YES is now upon us with a staged reduction planned from August 25th through to the final closure of our wire harness operations and factory by November 30th.

“Whilst this is unquestionably sad news, it is not new news and, as already mentioned by the Prime Minister himself, we must remain positive and proud of our achievements over these past 26 years of operations in Samoa." 

“It is the collect effort of the YES members that that has contributed to the success of YES manufacturing in Samoa and we should use these achievements to promote the value and expertise of all YES employees for future employment or other opportunities that may present to them within and beyond this year of 2017.”

By Ilia L. Likou 24 May 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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