As daily COVID-19 cases break new records every day in Japan, concern is growing that day-to-day business operations — in sectors from health care to railways — could become paralyzed if more workers become absent from either being infected with the virus or being considered a close contact, making them need to isolate for 10 days.
It’s a scenario many experts have warned about, and the government has asked companies to create business continuity plans (BCPs) and make sure they have one in place in case many employees cannot work.
On Friday, industry minister Koichi Hagiuda spoke online with business leaders at the Japan Business Federation, also known as Keidanren, asking them to ensure they have a solid BCP in place. Leaders from the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Federation of Electric Power Companies were also present.