Archives 2008

Motorola staff facing layoffs

Telecommunications company Motorola Inc yesterday said it will cut the number of its employees in China as part of a global layoff plan amid financial turbulence.

The company is currently under an internal evaluation of its Chinese operations, which is aimed at reducing costs and streamlining its products, Chen Lei, spokesman for Motorola China, told China Daily. Details of the layoff may be disclosed in the next few months, he said.

Motorola last week announced a plan to cut 3,000 workers worldwide, with nearly 2,000 from its handset division. The announcement came after the firm disclosed a disappointing third quarter result, in which net losses amounted to $397 million, compared with a profit of $60 million one year ago.

Chen said Motorola’s arm in China will get more resources from its headquarters in the United States after a planned restructuring is completed. He said China’s strategic position in the company will be intensified.

Foiled by its inability to extend the success of its Razr mobile phone, Motorola’s share in the global handset market shrank to 8.4 percent in the third quarter of this year, down from 9.5 percent in the second quarter and 22.4 percent in 2006, according to research firm Strategy Analytics.

The company has also been struggling in the country from fierce competition by market leader Nokia, as well as the rising number of domestic venders and hundreds of pirated handset makers. According to research firm GFK China, Motorola’s market share in China dropped from nearly 20 percent in 2006 to less than 10 percent this year.

Such sluggish performance was said to have led to the unexpected resignation of Ren Weiguang, head of Motorola’s mobile business in China, at the end of last month.

Earlier this year, Motorola announced its decision to spin off its mobile division to turn around its handset business. But the reduced growth rate of global handset shipments in the third quarter, driven by the financial crisis, has clouded the company’s revival plan.

Pang Jun, analyst from GFK China, said the long-term effects of Motorola’s layoff plan are still unclear, but the move will at least help the company stem its bleeding in the short term. “The financial crisis will have a significant impact on all the mobile phone makers,” he said.

Pang said the growth of the mobile phone market in China, the world’s largest handset market, may drop to 15 percent this year, down from 30 percent last year. “The growth rate might be even lower in 2009,” he added.

PwC to hire 2,000 graduates in 2009

Pricewater-houseCoopers (PwC) plans to hire about 2,000 graduates in China next year, as part of its long-term plan to expand in the country despite the global credit crunch, the firm’s China operations head said yesterday.

PwC, one of the world’s “Big Four” auditing firms, also plans to retain the pace of hiring for the next three to five years and will open new offices in the country “very soon” to support its rapid business growth, said Frank Lyn, PwC’s China markets leader.

Lyn added that Chinese companies intending to expand in the West through mergers and acquisitions could wait another six to nine months when deals are expected to be cheaper.

“The current economic crisis is something that everyone is very, very concerned about,” Lyn said.

“But if you take a longer-term view and the fact that we’re here to stay, we are not just hiring for now but ready to train our people for the next five to 10 years,” he said.

Last year, PwC hired 1,800 graduates and 800 experienced executives in China, Lyn said, adding it would be difficult to forecast how many experienced staff would be hired next year because the market environment will be different.

PwC has about 11,000 employees in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

Global financial crisis spills over China’s labor market

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) — In the space of a year, Yang Chanjuan’s career plan has changed direction. A soon-to-graduate college student in economics, Yang is feeling her fortunes being buffeted by the financial crisis.

Yang was recently told by her schoolmates already working in the financial sector that their companies would cut staff, or there would no bonus this year. Amid the turmoil and full of uncertainty, a job in banking or securities company was no longer desirable to her. As a result, she decided to apply for a government job.

Migrant workers fill in application forms at a job fair in Chongqing, southwest China on Jan. 1, 2008. International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated earlier that the financial crisis would cost 20 million jobs globally by the end of 2009. (Xinhua Photo)
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Yang’s change in career plan came as the financial crisis is spreading around the world. As it is now beginning to hit the real economy, more and more people, not only those in banks, have lost their jobs.

International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated earlier that the financial crisis would cost 20 million jobs globally by the end of 2009. The ILO said the new projections could prove to be underestimates if the effects of the current economic turmoil are not quickly confronted and plans laid for the looming recession.

In the birthplace of the crisis, the United States, big companies from Goldman Sachs to Coca Cola, Motorola to Alcoa, have all announced their job cut plans. Economists believed the jobless total could increase by 200,000.

Back to China, unemployment now becomes a concern too. Although with 2-trillion U.S. dollars of foreign reserves, a budget surplus and a controlled capital market, China would suffer limited direct impact from the crisis. However, weakening demand from its major markets, North America and Europe, is now leading China’s real economy in the export sectors into a tough situation.

In China’s coastal areas, export enterprises are now struggling with soaring labor cost and fewer orders from foreign customers. Many toy factories in South China’s Guangdong Province were shut from January to July this year.

Earlier last month, two big factories of a Hong Kong listed toy-maker were shut. As a result, 7,000 workers lost their jobs. Affected by the global financial crisis, the company was suspended from trading thus it faced severe shortage of current funds.

Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce showed that China’s export suffered a growth slowdown in the first three quarters compared with the same period last year — from 27.1 percent to 22.3 percent. The government said the gross domestic product (GDP)growth rate in the first three quarters this year slowed to 9.9 percent – a 2.3 percentage points fall compared with the same period last year.

“The greatest impact is on these labor-intensive, small and medium-sized export enterprises,” said Wang Dewen, a labor economist from China Academy of Social Sciences.

These export-oriented enterprises that make China the world’s workshop, are mainly small and medium-sized and vulnerable to market changes. These are China’s major employers, absorbing 70 percent of the aggregate 20-million new jobs every year.

Wang said that the lower-end labor market, especially the migrant workers who are the biggest source of employees in the export enterprises, would suffer from unemployment. As the crisis is now just beginning to hit the real economy, the whole situation could be worse if there is no countermeasure.

The fear of unemployment is also hovering over other places. College students and white-collar workers are now worried about their future in the open market.

Production Manager (eo154sz)

Job Title: Production Manager
Location: Shenzhen China
Job Description:
An international commercial furniture manufacturing company with a reputation for producing high quality products always delivered on schedule is looking for a Factory Manager to direct its manufacturing operation. This fast growing company is seeking an individual who can build, expand, and direct an organized and efficient manufacturing operation as sales increase.

Responsibilities
1. Directing, scheduling, and coordinating all manufacturing & production operations by adhering to superior quality standards;
2. Shipping finished products to specification, on schedule, and on budget;
3. Personally overseeing and monitoring all areas of manufacturing, maintenance, engineering, and all related functions to ensure efficient and profitable running of the operation;
4. Laying out and maintaining a clean, organized, and efficient factory that is consistent with international standards for manufacturing excellence;
5. Analyzing, developing, and instituting improved manufacturing processes and procedures that ensure efficient and effective production of high quality products;
6. Hiring and managing employees with experience in fiberglass, metal fabrication, woodwork, powder coating, quality control, and other functionally specific areas as the company requires;
7. Facilitating and delivering training for all production employees in manufacturing techniques, process control, and quality assurance;
8. Developing workers to work effectively in teams;
9. Working closely with procurement personnel to ensure that required raw materials are purchased, delivered, and maintained on site in the most cost effective manner;
10. Inspecting work in progress for conformance with quality standards and for efficiency of operations;
11. Overseeing all outsourcing and purchasing of finished products from suppliers to ensure products are manufactured to specification, on time, and on budget.
Requirements:
1. Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university;
2. Ten years experience in manufacturing; Must have 5 years supervisory/management experience
3. Must have good interpersonal skills;
4. Proficient in Mandarin with ability to communicate in English;
5. Highly motivated with ability to work independently
6. Strong communication capability and team work sprite. Effective problem-solver and strong sense of urgency.
7. Strong leadership and inter-personal skills with ability to work through all levels of organization, internal and external.
8. Be able to work under pressure, self-motivated and have positive attitude as well as good team spirit.
9. Strong sense of responsibility, highly initiative and flexible, mature, independent.
* Please send us your complete resume (both in Chinese and in English to: ‘topjob_154sz@dacare.com'(Please replace “#” with “@”)
* In the email subject MUST you plus the position name ?in either En or Ch ?

Yahoo to lay off at least 10% of workforce

Internet giant Yahoo announced on Tuesday that it planned to lay off at least 10 percent of its workforce over the next few months as sales declined for the third consecutive quarter this year.

At least 1,500 employees will lose their jobs as part of Yahoo’s cost-saving plan, which Yahoo hoped would reduce costs by 400 million U.S. dollars a year.

The company said it would also achieve “substantial additional cost savings” by addressing “structural inefficiencies.”

Also on Tuesday, Yahoo said its third-quarter sales, excluding commissions, were 1.32 billion dollars, a decrease of 21 million from the previous quarter.

Its third quarter profits were 54.3 million dollars, or 4 cents per share, down 77 million dollars from the previous quarter, a 64-percent decline.

In a statement, Yahoo Chief Executive Jerry Yang said that economic conditions and online advertising had softened during the third quarter.

Yahoo now projects that 2008 revenue will be between 7.18 billion and 7.38 billion dollars, down from a forecast, issued three months ago, of 7.35 billion to 7.85 billion.

Yang said the company would continue to balance the investment in new products with a tight control on costs.

“Despite a tough environment, we remain optimistic about Yahoo’s future,” he said during a conference call with analysts.

Following the release of the third quarter revenue report, Yahoo shares lost 6.1 percent, or 79 cents, to 12.07 dollars in regular trading on Tuesday and then gained more than 5 percent in after-hours trading.

New law won’t raise labor cost

The new labor contract law does not increase any labor costs for lawful enterprises, says an article on the website of People’s Daily. The following is an excerpt:

When facing the same labor contract law, enterprises have different views about its impact upon labor costs. As a textile factory owner in Fujian province said, the law tilts in favor of employees, pushing up labor costs and thus squeezing the room for development; while the boss of Anta, a sports shoes producer in Fujian, believed that it does not affect their normal operation and will contribute to merger and restructuring, boosting their development.

On Oct 7, Sun Chunlan, vice-chairwoman of All-China Federation of Trade Unions, told the press that the recent bankruptcy of small- and medium-sized enterprises has nothing to do with the implementation of the labor contract law.

The plight faced by SMEs is mainly because of the worsened international economic situation such as the fluctuation of exchange rates, weak foreign demands and domestic policies about taxation and finance. And the labor contract law in fact does not increase the labor costs of enterprises. The reasons are as follows:

First, the labor contract law does add some labor costs for enterprises that had seldom obeyed the labor law in the past. The previous labor laws and regulations in China already clarified what the employers should pay for employees including salaries, social security, welfare, housing fund and overtime compensation.

The newly enforced labor contract law only adds the requirement that employers should compensate for the termination of labor contracts with employees. So, if employers renew the contracts with employees or employees volunteer to quit their work, employers do not need to pay this compensation.

Second, some employers reduced their labor costs by adopting abnormal practices such as not paying social security for employees before the enactment of the labor contract law.

As a survey conducted in Guangdong province showed, the payment of social security for employees accounts for 2 percent of the total costs of an enterprise. The new labor contract law demands unlawful employers to make the payment of social security, leaving them with the feeling that labor costs have been raised by this new law. But we should note that social security payment is what employers should have offered and thus it does not increase labor costs for employers who have already paid this money to employees.

Therefore, in practice, it is those employers who had adopted illegal practices and seldom obeyed labor laws in the past who believe the labor contract law would increase their burdens.

The growth of an enterprise cannot be achieved at the expense of the legal rights of employees. It is not correct to regard the expenditures that should have been paid by enterprises as their increased labor costs.

The new labor contract law has just stripped unlawful enterprises of their inappropriate profits. It is a protection for lawful enterprises. Instead of weakening their competitive edge, it can bring new growth opportunities for them.

Overseas Chinese urged to come home

The government will continue to promote policies aimed at enticing skilled overseas Chinese to return home to develop their careers and build an innovative country.

“It is the talent pool that empowers China to compete in the campaign of global innovation,” Wan Gang, science and technology minister, said during the 5th Overseas Chinese Forum Worldwide yesterday in Beijing.

The government has always endeavored to cultivate the nation’s technological talent base, and its human resources in regard to the technology fields are now among the best in the world, Wan said.

China is emerging as an ever-popular destination for foreign students, with numbers steadily rising over the past few years, he said.

The country already ranks sixth in the world’s overseas study market, according to the latest research of the China Association of Science and Technology.

“However, the market is still hungry for cutting-edge technological talents,” Wan said at the forum, which attracted more than 200 overseas Chinese from 14 foreign countries.

“The forum aims to be a bridge for overseas Chinese to learn about the favorable policies of the Chinese government, and share cooperative purposes with domestic peers,” Li Haifeng, the chief of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, said.

“I made the right decision to come back to China and restart my career here,” Xue Lan, chief of Tsinghua University’s Public Policy and Management School, said, after studying and working in America for about 20 years before the 1990s.

However, Xue said that China still has a long way to go to promote “trilateral networks among academia, state and industry”.

The current global financial crisis could increase world unemployment by an estimated 20 million, according to the International Labour Office earlier this month.

Insiders said that although the crisis might also plague China, it could serve as opportunity to entice more overseas Chinese home.

“My former colleagues in America call me every day to consult me on the latest information and chances to work in China since the recent economic crisis hit America,” Wang Dazong, general manager of Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company, who studied in America and worked for General Motors, told China Daily.

The Overseas Chinese Forum will finish today.

Senior Sourcing Manager (mkt258sz)

Job Title: Senior Sourcing Manager
Location: Shenzhen China
Job Description:
An international commercial furniture manufacturer, this US parent multinational relies on its Shenzhen operation for global supply of commercial furniture market. We are currently searching for a Senior Sourcing Manager, who has sourcing system setting up experience with good management skills.
Be responsible for setting, formulation and implication the sourcing system. Good understanding of material and furniture. Have Strong knowledge where to locate high quality suppliers and good supplier relationship networks.
Responsibilities
1. Responsible for production, commodity and OEM outsourcing. Screen and select suppliers according to their quality, pricing, delivery credibility and service. Cooperate with Quality Department to audit suppliers on a regular and irregular basis.
2. Identifies, research, analyze, and recommend domestic and foreign suppliers. Appraises suppliers capabilities and reliability.
3. Setting and formulating the sourcing system, and maintains a database of suppliers, products purchased and contract terms.
4. Work with engineering team and supporting various transfer projects. Drive material localization for commodity.
5. Work on various global sourcing projects, supporting the overseas business units on their global sourcing and cost saving efforts.
6. Analyze the market purchase price and set target purchasing costs. Negotiate with suppliers to implement the target price. Focus on supplier sourcing activities, supplier management, parts cost management.
7. Source, negotiate and recommend competitive suppliers based on volume cost. Maintain and update supplier base in management system.
8. Lead sourcing team and manage the quality, delivery and cost (saving) performance on various sourcing projects.
9. Be responsible for establishment, implementation and control of policies, systems and procedures.
10. Coach, mentor and otherwise encourage the professional development of other engineers.

Requirements:
1. Bachelor of Science in Material, Engineering or equivalent, additional professional education is preferred.
2. Minimum 5 years related experience, preferably in furniture manufacturing or equivalent companies. A minimum of 3 years in supervisory roles.
3. A regional exposure, particularly to China, will be an advantage. Familiar with the material outsourcing market
4. Strong communication capability and team work sprite. Effective problem-solver and strong sense of urgency.
5. Mature and stable and with due carefulness and timeliness. Strong learning capability and high flexibility. Good interpersonal skills, self-motivated and independent.
6. Good skills in the MS office package is a must. Good business and technical skills
7. Proficient in Mandarin with ability to communicate in English an advantage.
* Please send us your complete resume (both in Chinese and in English to: ‘topjob_mkt258sz@dacare.com'(Please replace “#” with “@”)
* In the email subject MUST you plus the position name ?in either En or Ch ?

Finance Controller (fi194sz)

Job Title: Finance Controller
Location: Shenzhen China
Job Description:
An international commercial furniture manufacturer, this US parent multinational relies on its Shenzhen operation for global supply of commercial furniture market. We are currently searching for a Financial Controller, who has a good understanding of the accounting systems needed to run a manufacturing company.
Leading and developing the finance team in the site to enhance the financial and operational controls. Your outstanding interpersonal and communications skills are required to build confidence and credibility both within and outside the organization. Your disciplined systematic approach to process review, together with a demonstrated capability in aligning governance responsibilities with operational routines will be continually applied in this exciting role.
Responsibilities
1. To set up, implement and maintain the Company’s financial and accounting systems in compliance with company financial Procedures and accounting Procedures.
2. To manage the cash flow and advise management on appropriate actions to minimize working capital. To manage timely and accurate internal and external reporting.
3. To liaise with Banks, external auditors, tax authorities, government authorities, Insurance Companies, etc. Build relationships with various Banking, Government, Customs, Audit, and Tax authorities to ensure compliance with PRC regulations and to maximize profitability.
4. Monitor Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly closing to deliver statutory reports, corporate reports on time and accurately. Coordinate and direct the preparation of the budget and financial forecasts, maintain other planning and control procedures, while analyzing and reporting variances
5. To provide proper framework for proper product and sales costing structure; to develop and implement appropriate product costing procedures and disseminate information to the relevant department for execution.
6. Take the lead to analyze the latest material purchase price and true cost for sales quotation and customer management purpose.
7. Participate in the implementation of a broad variety of business programs including financial planning, analysis of financial and operating data, asset management, cost control etc
8. Organize the information needs of various corporate functions such as treasury, tax, planning, and audit. Review and analyze the operating results.
9. To be responsible for supervising the Finance/Accounting team in the factory as well. To act as the key member of the decision-making process, specifically providing financial expertise and leadership.

Requirements:
1. A university degree major in Finance/Accounting Familiar with both China GAAP, IFRS and US GAAP, CICPA, CPA or CMA is a plus
2. 8+years prior related work experience, manufacturing environment and minimum 4 years in managerial position in Multi-national company environment is must. Experience in focusing on cost control, cash management, financial reporting, tax compliance, and cost-based accounting.
3. Good knowledge in PRC taxation, Foreign exchange and relevant regulations/laws.
4. Fluency in both written and spoken English is a must.
5. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, necessary IT skills, full knowledge with Finance /Accounting systems;
6. Must be honest, analytical, sharp eyes for details, critical and well versed with local accounting practices and conversant with local account reporting requirements.

* Please send us your complete resume (both in Chinese and in English to: ‘topjob_fi194sz@dacare.com'(Please replace “#” with “@”)
* In the email subject MUST you plus the position name ?in either En or Ch ?

Sales Manager (mkt259sh)

Job Title: Sales Manager
Location: Shanghai China
Job Description:
An international commercial furniture manufacturer, this US parent multinational relies on its Shenzhen operation for global supply of commercial furniture market. We are currently searching for a Senior Sales Manager, who is responsible for the development and performance of all sales activities in China.
You will establish plans and strategies to grow sales and expand the customer base individually and through management of the company’s sales team.
Responsibilities
1. Responsible for the performance and development of all company China-based account executives;
2. Develops a sales plan that ensures the attainment of company sales goals and profitability;
3. Building up, training and administration of Sales Team. Making and implement of Chinese marketing strategy.
4. Ensure a steady and programmatic development of sales, develop a steady and beneficial customer base and increase profit. Ensure the validity of selling cost and maintain an effective internal operation system.
5. Develops a sales budget and controls expenses to meet budget guidelines;
6. Initiates and coordinates development of action plans to penetrate new markets;
7. Recruits, interviews, and hires account executives based on criteria agreed upon with senior management;
8. Insures that all executives meet or exceed all activity standards for prospecting calls, appointments, presentations, proposals, and sales;
9. Sets positive example for account executives in areas of personal character, commitment, organizational and selling skills, and work habits;
10. Provides timely feedback to senior management regarding performance;
11. Resolves customer complaint regarding sales and service;
12. Represents company at trade shows to promote products and develop sales leads;
13. Meets personal goals for sales and profitability.

Requirements:
1. Bachelor degree. At least 4 years relevant work experience.
2. Excellent skills of selling, leading and communication.
3. A sound knowledge of Chinese market of furniture or relevant field.
4. Integrity, result oriented and good team player. Strong communication and presentation skill, self motivated to work hard, and can work under pressure
5. Excellent negotiate and communication skill, worked independent and analytic spirit. Positive and quick learner
6. Good speaking and written Mandarin, English will be a plus.
* Please send us your complete resume (both in Chinese and in English to: ‘topjob_mkt259sh@dacare.com'(Please replace “#” with “@”)
* In the email subject MUST you plus the position name ?in either En or Ch ?