Calls for elimination of unpaid overtime work are in action

Workers' long-standing call for the elimination of unpaid overtime work is being translated into action following the government circular in April calling for such practices to be ended.

In the parliament, Yajima Tsuneo, a Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives revealed the fact that postal and local government employees, including those in managerial positions are forced to work for nothing before and after regular work hours. "The imposition of such labor practices is a crime," Yajima said.

In Hokkaido, the Workplace Progressive Unity Forum organized by steel workers in Muroran City on May 15 published the result of their independent survey of employees at the Nippon Steel Corp. plant and its subsidiaries in the city. Pointing out that 42 percent of the respondents said, "We have unpaid overtime work," the Progressive Unity Forum requested the local labor standards inspection office to look into the matter.

The JCP and workers from the Shizuoka Prefectural Association of JCP Supporters visited the Shizuoka office of the Welfare and Labor Ministry on May 17 calling for administrative action to be taken to eliminate unpaid overtime work.

In the meeting attended also by people from the "Youth Network to Change Japan with the JCP," the representatives urged the bureau to correct the failure of the Atami City Administration, and for Suzuki Motor Corp. to pay for overtime work

In April the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry issued a circular calling for the effort to get rid of unpaid labor from the nation. (end)