Toyota will start paying workers in Japan for additional hours worked by voluntarily taking part in meets such as quality control circles. In the past workers have not been paid for attending such sessions, which are designed to boost overall quality at manufacturing plants.

According to a report in Asahi Shimbun, Toyota has reportedly been criticized for increasing the amount of free overtime it asks for from workers. The practice is described as ‘service overtime’ or ‘saabisu zangyo’.

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The Associated Press reported that free overtime was limited to two hours per month. From next month workers will start to be compensated for this time.

Toyota’s rapid global expansion has had a negative effect on quality. Toyota is trying to address that.

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