DHL negotiating to re-structure work force in Germany
DHL negotiating to re-structure work force in Germany
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DHL, FedEx ranked leaders in Asian express-delivery poll
In a recent Reader’s Digest ‘Superbrands 2004’ poll, DHL Express and Federal Express were ranked the best recognised rapid-delivery services in Asia. Reader’s Digest magazine enclosed 180,000 questionnaires in its October 2003 issue and Nielson Media Research telephoned another 3,000 consumers, asking which brands they most admired in a range of 41 product categories. After analysing 6,000 responses, the magazine gave both DHL and Federal Express its Gold Award for Asia. The SuperBrands awards are based on Reader’s Digest surveys in Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and the Philippines.
Read MoreDHL to Reduce Number of Drivers in Germany
Deutsche Post, the German postal service operator, is planning to reduce the number of drivers at DHL, its express forwarding subsidiary, through an increase in the use of subcontractors. The changes are expected to take place at the beginning of next year. Services sector union Ver.di fears that Deutsche Post may cease to use its own staff for DHL deliveries altogether. Currently, most of the 8,000 delivery staff are Deutsche Post employees. Deutsche Post is planning to merge its three express forwarding subsidiaries DHL, Deutsche Post Express and Danzas, which could affect up to 20,000 employees, although the group has declined to give figures.
Read MoreJapan Govt Mulling Special Tax Benefits for Japan Post
The Japanese government is considering giving Japan Post special tax benefits when the public corporation is privatized in April 2007, informed sources said Friday. Specifically, the government plans to allow the deferment of payments of asset transfer tax after the privatization. It is also considering reduced registration license tax, real estate acquisition tax and stamp tax, the sources said. The special tax treatment is intended as a transitional measure to achieve a smooth privatization. Japan Post has 400 trillion yen of assets, and a huge amount of taxes would have to be paid without such a favor when the assets are formally transferred to companies to be created from the privatization.
Read MorePostal privatization blueprint may be adopted next Friday
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi renewed his resolve Friday to push forward with postal reform despite criticism within his Liberal Democratic Party, saying he wants to endorse a basic policy for privatizing the nation’s postal services at next Friday’s Cabinet meeting. He wants to see the blueprint adopted after the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy finalizes it early next week, LDP lawmakers said. LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Fukushiro Nukaga met with Koizumi in the premier’s office and explained the stubborn opposition within the party. According to Nukaga, Koizumi indicated he will not stick to the adoption of the basic policy at next Friday’s Cabinet meeting and may discuss the matter with the LDP. Asked about the talks with Nukaga, however, Koizumi told reporters, “I told Mr. Nukaga, let us discuss the issue by next Friday thoroughly.”
Read MorePrestige deal for Amtrak Express Parcels
Amtrak Express Parcels has broken Parcelforce’s monopoly on home delivery for Comet, with a contract to deliver small electrical items. It will make around 45% of the 7,000 deliveries a day expected in the Christmas peak. “We will do the higher value work,” Amtrak says. Amtrak, backed by 3i, made a (pounds sterling)1.9m pre-tax profit in the year to May 31, against a loss of (pounds sterling)5.5m a year before.
Read MoreANC deal
ANC Express has secured a 3 year £15m contract with home products wholesaler and distributor Total Entertainment. The contract covers more than one million parcel deliveries a year to retailers including Sainsburys, Wm Morrison, Somerfield, Kwik Save, HMV, Virgin Retail and hundreds of independent retailers. ANC business development director Mark Mitchell says:
We are constantly developing solutions to meet the high standards of secure deliveries needed for this sector.
Japan’s Yamato rejects Lawson’s new offer to handle parcels
Yamato Transport Co. on Wednesday turned down a fresh proposal from Lawson Inc. to continue handling its parcel delivery services alongside rival Japan Post’s similar offering, saying the company and the government-backed entity “are not on a level playing field.” Lawson convenience stores on Nov. 1 will start serving as pickup spots for Japan Post’s low-cost parcel delivery services, and this prompted Yamato Transport, the nation’s largest home-to-home parcel delivery service operator, to cancel a contract with Lawson. Under the previous contract, Yamato was designated as the sole distributor of parcels through Lawson’s nationwide convenience store network. Lawson said Wednesday that it has proposed a new contract to Yamato without an exclusivity clause.
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