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Japan: Watchdog prevents convenience store chains from forcing 24-hr openings

By  |  April 24, 2019

The Japan Fair Trade Commission is considering preventing convenience store operators from forcing franchise owners to run their outlets 24 hours a day, sources close to the matter said Wednesday, April 24.

Operators unilaterally rejecting franchise holders’ requests to review their business hours to cope with severe labor shortages would be an example of a case subject to the new regulations, the sources said.

The antitrust watchdog is exploring the possibility of applying the antitrust law, which prohibits companies from abusing their positions of power, to such cases to protect vulnerable business partners.

Full Content: Japan Times

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