Japan revamping its post office network
Being the main physical link between the group and its customers, it is important that postal service reform makes post offices more convenient and reliable for customers. The House of Councillors passed a bill last week to revise the Postal Service Privatisation Law and review the reforms undertaken by the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
The key point of the review is to make postal services more convenient for customers. Under the revised law, the Japan Post Group will merge Japan Post Service Co. and Japan Post Network Co. to resolve the problem of segmented operations between the two firms.
The merger will allow delivery people to make deposits on behalf of customers. it is hoped the merged company will expand its operations so it can meet users’ specific needs.
The revised law also addresses how the Japan Post Group should offer universal services throughout the country.
In addition to the universal mail services the group is already required to offer, the revised law will oblige it to provide two other basic services–postal savings and insurance–at post offices nationwide. This should ensure that no remote areas will be excluded from its services.
The Japan Post Group will not be able to maintain its network without stable management. The mammoth group, which has more than 200,000 employees, is urged to streamline its operations and reform its management culture, which has been far too dependent on the government.
