7-Eleven, a Japan-based convenience store, demands its stores open round the clock. But, with the shortage of labor and rising labor costs, is it possible? (Image via The Strait Times)

7-Eleven US brainstorms with Japanese counterpart to tackle 24/7 issue

Due to the labor shortage and burdening policy, a U.S body representing 7-11 owners in America, National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF), consisting about 4,000 7-Eleven chains, stated that it would cooperate with Japan to tackle 24/7 policy which has caused problems in the land where 7-11 was originated as well.

During their visit to Tokyo, Senior Official of NCASEF and 7-Eleven Los Angeles franchisee, Jaspreet Dhillon, said that while 7-Eleven all around the world was facing hardships due to the 24/7 policy, not only Japan. Seven-Eleven Japan Co., the parent company of 7-Eleven, requires all of its convenience stores to open round the clock.

Due to the rising labor costs and shortage, the U.S franchisees found it difficult to open 24/7. Executive Vice Chairman of NCASEF, Michael Jorgensen, said that the coalition would like to monitor closely how Japanese 7-Eleven manage to keep the policy going.

It is said that the parent company had not delivered any force over the U.S branches to keep opening 24/7. However, the NCASEF was rumored to send a letter to the Japan Fair Trade Commission to ask for their guidance and view regarding the matter.

One of the 7-Eleven owners in Japan, Mitoshi Matsumoto, went against the 24/7 policy by cutting the business hours of its 7-11 store. By the action, Matsumoto cried out the message that it is hard to maintain such policy with the labor shortage and rising labor costs.

The Japanese government acknowledged the matter. On its demand, Japanese convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart was planning to implement shorter business hours on trial and self-checkout machines to tackle labor issues.

Source: https://bit.ly/2nct9x3