{
  "id": 13657948,
  "title": "Major Japanese Pharmacy Subsidiary Cut Short Contracts of 50 Workers with Disabilities Hired through Thankslab Agency",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/major-japanese-pharmacy-subsidiary-cut-short-contracts-of-50-workers",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-11T06:12:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
    "slug": "the-japan-news-by-the-yomiuri-shimbun",
    "url": "https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20261011-353327/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A subsidiary of Ain Holdings Inc. terminated the contracts of approximately 50 workers with disabilities just nine months after employing them through an agency called Thankslab Inc., according to The Yomiuri Shimbun. The workers were hired via Thankslab, a Naha-based company specializing in employment services for individuals with disabilities. Prior to their hiring, they were told that their contracts would be based on a \"1½-year plan.\" However, the workers were later informed by the agency that their employment would end after nine months due to the employer's circumstances. This abrupt termination has left some of the workers unable to continue working. It is rare for such a large number of employees with disabilities to be terminated simultaneously after a shortened employment period. Despite being the direct employer, the subsidiary reportedly claimed that it \"had not been told by the agency that the employment term would be for 1½ years.\" The incident occurred when Kraft Inc., located in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, hired about 50 individuals with disabilities through Thankslab in October of the previous year. These employees worked at a Thankslab office or remotely. Kraft, which operates the Sakura Pharmacy chain across Japan, was acquired by Ain Holdings in August of the same year. Thankslab initially informed the employees that they would undergo a 1½-year training program as part of a career development plan. The hiring documents stated that the employment period was six months, with the possibility of contract renewal and no upper limit on renewals. However, around early March, a Thankslab official notified the employees that their next contract period would be three months and that their employment would terminate by the end of June. In the new contract document, the renewal provision was changed to \"none.\" One employee, a 40-year-old man with a mental disability, expressed confusion, stating that he had assumed he could work for at least 1½ years based on the six-month renewal basis. He was unable to work upon learning of the termination and subsequently resigned. Kraft informed The Yomiuri Shimbun that it terminated the employment after becoming aware of Ain Holdings' policy requiring employees with disabilities to work in the same environment as others. The company added that it is considering rehiring the terminated employees. Thankslab stated that it will refrain from commenting on matters related to contracts between its corporate clients and their employees.",
  "summary": "A subsidiary of major pharmacy chain Ain Holdings Inc. cut short the contracts of about 50 workers with disabilities just nine months after hiring them through an employment agency, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ain Holdings subsidiary terminated 50 disabled workers after 9 months.",
    "Workers hired through Thankslab agency for disability employment services.",
    "Kraft Inc. in Tokyo acquired by Ain Holdings in August same year."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}