MANILA, Philippines – Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is implementing a three-day work-week or 50 percent reduction in production for about two months starting next week, but said there will be no layoff of workers as the company will just have to implement some work adjustment schedules.

TMP officials led by TMP vice-president Rommel Gutierrez had already informed the Board of Investments executive director Efren V. Leaño of their new work schedules. Gutierrez said that full commercial operation is expected to resume in July because the Toyota Japan plants are expected to be back on full operation sometime in June or even late May this year.

TMP also informed BoI there will be no layoffs as a result of the adjustments in work schedules at its assembly facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Under the adjusted work schedules, the TMP production workers at its Sta. Rosa plant will operate three days on two shifts from a five-day work week on two shift operation. While the other workers go on regular shift, the others would be undergoing some training, rotate their shifts, among others.

Gutierrez also told reporters they are scheduled to meet with the Department of Labor and Employment next week.

TMP assembles 120 units a day for both models. Vios accounts for 60 percent of its CKD production and Innova for the balance of 40 percent. These models account for 50 percent of its total sales.

Gutierrez said there will be no impact on production workers saying it is just a matter of scheduling. The temporary shutdown will not also affect its sales performance, he said.

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) finished 2010 strong with year-end sales of 56,855 units capturing 33.7% market share.

“We continue to observe normal working days except for the production line,” he said.

TMP, the country’s biggest car player, imports its SUV models as completely built-up (CBU) packs directly from Japan  Alphard, Hi-Ace, Land Cruiser, Lexus, Prado, Previa, Rav 4 and Prius.

These CBU imports from Japan account for 10 percent of its total sales. Although some of TMP’s auto parts for its CKD assembly here are imported from Thailand , some tier 2 and 3 assembly parts are imported form Japan.

TMP also imports CBU models from Thailand to include Yaris, Altis, Camry, Fortuner and Hi-Lux. The Avanza is imported from Indonesia. 

Toyota , the world's no. 1 car maker, suspended production at all its 18 factories in Japan from March 14 to 26 due to parts shortages. Since March 28, Toyota has been running just two plants at limited capacity to make Prius and Lexus cars.

The disasters resulted ina production loss of 200,000 cars from March 14 to April 1.