Society | May 29

Suzuki chairman forfeits a year's pay after mass recall

The chairman of Suzuki Motor will voluntarily forgo compensation for a full year to atone for the string of inspection cheating scandals that led to one of the biggest recalls in Japan's history.

Chairman Osamu Suzuki will work without compensation for 12 months starting in July, the Japanese automaker said Tuesday. His son, President Toshihiro Suzuki, will receive a 50% cut in his compensation for six months. Both will give up bonuses for fiscal 2018.

The vice chairman, directors and other executives will receive pay cuts between 10% and 40% for periods lasting from three to six months. Board directors will relinquish fiscal 2018 bonuses as well. Hiroaki Matsuura, the director and managing officer in charge of production, will resign at the shareholders meeting in June.

The automaker was found to have doctored emissions and other data when testing completed vehicles and used unqualified personnel to inspect autos before shipment. This resulted in the company executing a recall in April spanning 2 million vehicles domestically. Suzuki said the recall will dent earnings by 80 billion yen ($730 million).

To prevent a recurrence of the scandal, Suzuki will establish a committee next month tasked with reforming the inspection process. Exams for prospective vehicle auditors will be improved, and all auditors will receive an upgrade in benefits. New equipment also will be installed to bolster product quality.


MORE Society NEWS

The Imperial Household Agency has announced that Princess Kako, the second daughter of the Akishino family, is scheduled to visit Greece in late May to promote international goodwill.

The Taiji Town Whale Museum in Wakayama Prefecture conducted a memorial service on Tuesday for marine mammals and fish that have died in captivity.

A startling projection has been unveiled, suggesting that if current trends continue, every Japanese person might eventually be named 'Sato'.

POPULAR NEWS

Four men have been arrested by Tokyo police for allegedly recruiting women for prostitution in the United States via a website, promising encounters with affluent clients and high earnings.

For the first time in 73 years, Japan has unveiled a newly constructed whaling mother ship, equipped with drone technology for whaling operations in the Antarctic Sea.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Nara Prefecture has disciplined its former Youth Division Chief following a controversial dance party incident.

Residents of Japan's oldest student dormitory, self-managed for over 100 years, are digging in as Kyoto University attempts to evict them from the premises.

A Japan Airlines flight en route from Melbourne to Narita Airport encountered sudden severe turbulence on April 1, causing injuries to several cabin crew, including a broken leg.

FOLLOW US