7-Eleven to Enhance Security Amid Rise Of Solo Workers At Night

Seven-Eleven Japan Co. plans to strengthen security at its convenience stores as more locations are operated by a single employee overnight due to a severe labor shortage, Kyodo News reported.

Convenience stores across Japan are grappling with a persistent labor shortage and rising wages, leading to more stores operating with just one or two employees during certain hours. I Photo: Maksym Kozlenko Wikimedia Commons

Under the new security measures, employees will use a remote control to manage access to the store.

Customers will only be allowed entry when a sensor at the entrance detects their presence and employees grant access, according to sources. Convenience stores across Japan are grappling with a persistent labor shortage and rising wages, leading to more stores operating with just one or two employees during certain hours.

Such stores are more vulnerable to robberies, assaults, and emergencies such as natural disasters or employees falling ill unexpectedly. Seven-Eleven Japan has already trialed the new system at select stores and plans to expand its implementation beginning in May, sources indicated.

Additionally, the company will install partitions at cash registers to protect employees from potential violence. These measures aim to improve safety for staff and customers alike, Mainichi Japan also reported.