In face of weakening LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) demand, NEC plans to transfer and consolidate operations in its LCD plant located in Kagoshima, southern Japan, to its Akita plant by year-end 2009, with an attempt to streamline its LCD manufacturing operations, the Jiji Press reported on March 4.

The company will be reduced the current workforce of 1,190 to about 600 by the end of March 2010, and workers will be given a choice between transferring to the Akita plant or retiring through a voluntary retirement program. This layoff and plant shutdown decision is part of the company's plan - announced in January 30, 2009 - to cut more than 20,000 jobs, including 10,000 full-time workers, by March 2010, according to the Wall Street Journal.