OSAKA -- Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. will transfer 1,200 clerical and other employees to an office business subsidiary as it cuts further into labor costs, company officials said Friday.

Of the 1,200 to be sent to Matsushita Business Services Co., 200 aged 55 and over will lose their status as employees of the parent company and will become employees of the subsidiary. The remaining 1,000 will remain employees of Matsushita Electric.

The clerical workers will be joined by drivers and security guards in the transfer.