Mitsubishi closes 'lawless' plant

Mitsubishi Motors has shuttered indefinitely a subsidiary's plant in Venezuela due to a lack of productivity and problems with worker discipline, the company said Monday.

The factory in eastern Venezuela, which also assembles Hyundai and Fuso cars, was closed because of the "high level of absenteeism, disobedience, aggression and lawlessness of some of the workers,'' the Japanese firm said in a statement.

Run by MMC Automotriz, a joint venture between Japan's Sojitz Group and a Venezuelan company, the plant may still reopen if there is a guarantee for "the safety of its workers and employees in a climate of peace and discipline,'' Mitsubishi said.

The closure affects some 2,000 employees, and the company said it was ready to negotiate with the Department of Labor on reopening the plant.