Married women workers win settlement over discrimination

In the nation's first lawsuit over discrimination by a company against married women workers in wages and promotion, 12 plaintiffs on December 16 at the Osaka High Court reached a settlement with Sumitomo Life Insurance, which promised to pay them 90 million yen (733 dollars).

The twelve workers (7 retirees now) entered the company between 1958 to 1963. The company made it a rule to make female workers quit upon marriage. If a worker refused, she had to undergo various forms of discrimination and disadvantages.

In 1995, the 12 workers filed a suit against the government and the company. The company argued that labor of less quantity and lower quality comes from married women responsible for housework, and therefore low ratings should be accepted.

In 2001, the Osaka District Court acknowledged that discrimination was taking place and ruled that the practice is illegal.

In 2002, the Osaka High Court supported the previous ruling and the plaintiffs reached an out-of-court settlement with both the company and the state which pledged proper compliance with the equal employment law.

Watanabe Yasuko, head of the plaintiffs group, said that the door has opened to the possibility of a workplace without discrimination against women. She wanted Sumitomo Life Insurance to totally end discrimination against married women workers. (end)