Seven-Eleven Japan Co. is ending 24-hour operations at some outlets, becoming the first major convenience store operator to scale back around-the-clock hours to address Japan's labor crunch.
Eight stores will begin cutting back on their operating hours on Nov. 1, because they are finding it increasingly difficult to staff the night shift, the company said Monday.
Additional stores may also shorten their operating hours, joining some 200 outlets, out of a total of 21,000 nationwide, that are currently trying out shorter hours on a trial basis.