Shipping companies encourage employees to voluntarily retire early and provide at least 24 months of
- Author:weiyun.com
- Source:weiyun.com
- Release Date:2026-02-24
Recently, Hanxin Shipping (HMM) launched a voluntary early retirement plan for employees over 50 years old, taking the lead in carrying out structural adjustments.
Since February 3, HMM has implemented a voluntary retirement support plan for employees aged 50 and above, and officially started accepting early retirement applications.
Based on length of service, applicants will receive basic monthly salary compensation equivalent to two years, and may receive reemployment and entrepreneurship support.
It is reported that the company's management is considering upgrading the project from a one-time structural adjustment to an annual regular implementation strategy.
This is the second time HMM has played the voluntary resignation card.
As early as 2022, the company had already implemented the program within a limited time for employees with more than 10 years of service. However, the actual number of applicants at that time was only more than 30, and the response was not strong.
There is speculation that due to falling freight rates and increasing market concerns about oversupply, HMM hopes to reduce labor costs and organizational scale in advance while it is still in the profit stage.
The structural adjustment of mainly employees in their 50s is not unique to the shipping industry.
Recently, large companies such as LG Electronics, Korea Telecom (KT), and emart have also launched regular voluntary separation programs for employees over 50 years old.
Contrary to the direction in which society is discussing extending the retirement age, the trend of "intergenerational structural adjustment" is spreading.
In addition, major global liner companies are also promoting structural adjustments and cost reductions.
Previously, shipping giant Maersk announced that it would cut about 1,000 jobs worldwide and reduce capital expenditures;
Japan's Ocean Network Shipping (ONE) has experienced a decline in profitability since the fourth quarter of 2025, affected by weak container freight rates and increased shipping capacity;
Hapag-Lloyd increased its shipping capacity last year, but its operating profit shrank by nearly half due to falling freight rates and rising costs.
The market outlook is also not optimistic. BIMCO, a shipping consulting organization, predicts that global container freight volume will only maintain low growth in 2025 and 2026.
Industry insiders pointed out that shipping companies have begun to reshape their human resources and cost structures, such as introducing early retirement systems. They are more cautious and conservative in responding to the further weakening of the container market in advance, making organizational operations more flexible and resilient.
Since February 3, HMM has implemented a voluntary retirement support plan for employees aged 50 and above, and officially started accepting early retirement applications.
Based on length of service, applicants will receive basic monthly salary compensation equivalent to two years, and may receive reemployment and entrepreneurship support.
It is reported that the company's management is considering upgrading the project from a one-time structural adjustment to an annual regular implementation strategy.
This is the second time HMM has played the voluntary resignation card.
As early as 2022, the company had already implemented the program within a limited time for employees with more than 10 years of service. However, the actual number of applicants at that time was only more than 30, and the response was not strong.
There is speculation that due to falling freight rates and increasing market concerns about oversupply, HMM hopes to reduce labor costs and organizational scale in advance while it is still in the profit stage.
The structural adjustment of mainly employees in their 50s is not unique to the shipping industry.
Recently, large companies such as LG Electronics, Korea Telecom (KT), and emart have also launched regular voluntary separation programs for employees over 50 years old.
Contrary to the direction in which society is discussing extending the retirement age, the trend of "intergenerational structural adjustment" is spreading.
In addition, major global liner companies are also promoting structural adjustments and cost reductions.
Previously, shipping giant Maersk announced that it would cut about 1,000 jobs worldwide and reduce capital expenditures;
Japan's Ocean Network Shipping (ONE) has experienced a decline in profitability since the fourth quarter of 2025, affected by weak container freight rates and increased shipping capacity;
Hapag-Lloyd increased its shipping capacity last year, but its operating profit shrank by nearly half due to falling freight rates and rising costs.
The market outlook is also not optimistic. BIMCO, a shipping consulting organization, predicts that global container freight volume will only maintain low growth in 2025 and 2026.
Industry insiders pointed out that shipping companies have begun to reshape their human resources and cost structures, such as introducing early retirement systems. They are more cautious and conservative in responding to the further weakening of the container market in advance, making organizational operations more flexible and resilient.