Bridgestone, one of Japan's largest tire producers, has unveiled its plan to invite voluntary retirement for its employees. The announcement comes amid the challenging circumstances in the global economy, prompting companies to streamline operations for sustainability. It is not clear yet how many employees will be affected or how this might impact Bridgestone's future growth. However, the initiative suggests a strategic move by the company to combat the ever-increasing business pressures.

The concept of "lifetime employment" is somewhat ingrained in the Japanese work culture, where company devotion is appreciated. However, in the past few years, Japanese companies have started to offer voluntary retirement options to employees to keep business sustainable and progress in the global competitive market. Such moves often generate conversations around labor rights and corporate obligations in Japan.

The idea of voluntary retirement schemes is not new to Western economies like the US or EU. Downsizing happens on a much more regular basis to maintain a lean team and deal with market fluctuations. However, it's usually coupled with outplacement services to support affected employees to transition to their next job. The main difference lies in the societal factors, where such moves are far more accepted and commonplace in the west as part of the business cycle.