FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc. is considering directly hiring about 1,000 dispatched workers even after the expiration of their contracts in view of a possible recovery in production levels, company sources said Tuesday.

The wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp. will determine the exact number of employees to be hired as permanent or seasonal workers in consideration of future economic conditions, the sources said.

By law, a company can only hire a worker dispatched from a staffing agency for up to three years and will be required to directly hire the employee if the contract is to be extended beyond that period.

The sources said Toyota Motor Kyushu decided direct employment would be the best option to secure a certain number of highly skilled workers ahead of an anticipated turnaround in production levels, which have been reduced amid the sharp downturn in the global auto industry.