Panasonic compensates employees for China pollution problem in rare move for global companies

TOKYO – Japanese electronics maker Panasonic Corp. is compensating employees for living with air pollution in China.

The payment for what the company described as the "PM2.5 problem," referring to tiny particles in the air that at sufficient quantities reduce visibility and increase health risks, is part of a package negotiated annually for employees in China who belong to the Panasonic union.

Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have become notorious for high pollution.

The company did not disclose the amount of the payments, which start in April, or give a number for those eligible.

Panasonic employs about 70,000 people in China and was among the first Japanese companies to expand aggressively there.

It says the compensation is offered to union members, but not to locally hired staff.