Japan Post Holdings Co. said Wednesday that about 34,000 nonregular group employees have applied for examinations to become regular employees later this year.
Of about 200,000 nonregular Japan Post group employees, some 65,000 who meet certain conditions have been allowed to make such a bid since mid-June through June 30, after then postal reform minister Shizuka Kamei called for such a change to stabilize employment in the group.
After written examinations and interviews from early August, Japan Post will announce successful applicants in early October and switch their employee status around November.
The step is estimated to cost ¥2 million per person annually on average in the coming decade, according to group officials, alluding to possible additional pressures on management of the Japan Post group if a large number of applicants pass the exams.