Investigation into fraudulent work certificates launched at Yokohama

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) – An investigation is apparently fake Work Keys development certificates is affecting the employment status of some people working at least one local manufacturing plant .

Yokohama Tire in West Point is one of the companies impacted.

WorkKeys is a job skills assesment program many companies use to determine the aptitude of potential hires.

A spokesman for Yokohama confirms there have been some employee separations over the past few days based on not meeting pre-employment requirements.

Read the official statement from Yokohama below.

Yokohama Tire Manufacturing Mississippi (YTMM) announced that 29 employees were terminated due to not meeting pre-employment requirements.  YTMM is actively investigating the situation and has created new measures to prevent this from occurring in the future. 

“People are our most important asset at YTMM,” said Osamu Zushi, YTMM President. “We’re extremely proud of our local workforce and won’t let this unfortunate situation take anything away from the great work they provide.”

YTMM, which produces commercial truck tires, opened in 2015 and currently has 665 employees.