Practical know-how of the Global Project

Hitoshi Goto

Ukihiko Takagi

In Part 9, we discussed note of local labor laws and contracts in overseas projects. This time, we will look at how to plan a schedule harmonized with the local work style.

Brazil, Europe and the United States, where long-term vacations and reduced working time are being taken

In Part 1 of this series, so we wrote that there are some countries that give priority to vacancy over QCD. Of course there are differences in countries and regions, but there are also countries like the Vietnam, the Philippines, and the Republic of Korea that are relatively close to Japan in term of working style.

However, in general, it is better to think that it is common practice on a global not to work overtime or work on holidays.

Brazil is one of the countries and regions where the national government has strict working hour limits. In Japan as well, "Reform of work-styles" has recently been a topic of interest, and the government and local governments are making every effort to reduce overtime work and holiday work. But if you know the current system in Brazil, you may be embarrassed to say the word "reform."

Brazil must provide 30 consecutive days of vacation leave (with pay) in a year, including managerial positions. The labor of times worked per week is strictly limited to 44 hours. Overtime work is up to two hours a day, and an extra 50% salary must be paid for overtime work.

Western countries are also making progress, and in Germany, a person who has worked for six consecutive months is entitled to a minimum of 24 days of paid holiday. There is a minimum legal vacation of five weeks annually in France, and an attempt to work six hours a day in Sweden has begun. The Netherlands is beginning to work four days a week.

Scheduling according to personnel's vacation is important.

Consultants, system engineers, business users, managers, and management executives all follow these rules. It is impossible to cover the delay by overtime work or holiday work as in Japan.

As a matter of fact, it is difficult to adjust project member's vacation date after they had already decided. It is necessary to plan a schedule according to the personnel's vacation beforehand.

Moreover, our system implementation projects in Brazil tend to be delayed. Japan is a country that is rare in the world where trains come on time, so it raises a red flag when there is delay in delivery. However, in some other countries and regions, delays in delivery is still tolerative at some point.

Therefore, in Brazil (but not exclusively) it is necessary to plan a schedule that will allow you to spare larger buffer.

Let's say that the size of the buffer is unimaginable to those who are accustomed to Japanese projects. And the buffer is usually used up.

<<Read [Part 9]Read [Part 11]>>

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