AUTOS : Toyota Shortens the Workday

Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday that it will cut the length of the working day at its plants because of public pressure to reduce Japan’s typically long working hours.

But the time lost will come out of employees’ lunch breaks.

A spokesman said Toyota will cut yearly working hours at its factories to 1,891 from the current 1,952 because of social pressure and criticism that Japan’s working hours are too long compared with other countries.

The reduction will not affect Toyota’s production because the lost 15 minutes will come from shorter lunch breaks, he said. The change will take effect in May.