Parliamentarians league established to improve part-time workers' treatment

A parliamentarians league to work for better treatment of part-time workers was set up on April 3 in the House of Councilors Members Building. More than 50 Dietmembers joined the league from the Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, and the Parliamentary Innovation Club.

The number of part-time workers is increasing, while that of full-time workers is decreasing.

For equal working conditions and treatment between full-time and part-time workers, the league will make a study and investigations, publish opinions, and propose a bill.

Ten Dietmembers from the Japanese Communist Party took part in the league. Yoshikawa Haruko, who was elected the league's secretary general, said, "Female part-time workers' wages are only 35-36 percent of the wages of male full-time workers. Such discrimination must be ended in order to promote equal participation in the society." (end)