JCP submits a bill for equal treatment between part timers and regular workers

The Japanese Communist Party on April 18 submitted a bill to the House of Councilors calling for improvement in working conditions of part-timers and workers who work under a fixed-term employment contract.

The number of part timers working shorter hours than regular employees is approximately 12 million throughout Japan, and 70 percent are women. The rate of their hourly wages is 49.7 percent of full-time workers and 34.4 percent of male regular workers.

Part-time workers are discriminated against in fringe benefits, including job training, paid holidays, and social welfare services. No matter how many years they work, they are easily dismissed at the company's convenience.

The JCP proposes in its bill that employers must treat non-regular workers with the same working conditions as regular workers, in such aspects as wages, holidays, job training, welfare programs, dismissals, and retirement.

The bill designates that if an employer violates the "equal treatment"provision, the minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare will issue an administrative guidance to the employer.

In case of an employer's non-compliance despite the government directive, the minister can inform the public of the misconduct and impose a criminal penalty of 300,000-yen or six-month imprisonment, according to the bill. (end)