Court: textile company's discrimination against JCP members is illegal

The Osaka District Court on May 14 ruled that Kurabo Industries Ltd., a major Japanese fabrics manufacturer, illegally discriminated against two employees who are Japanese Communist Party members, and ordered the major textile company to pay them 51 million yen in compensation.

The plaintiffs, Ito Tateo and Miyazaki Shukichi, were claiming that for 25 years the company increased their salary at a rate less than other employees, failed to promote them, and violated their human rights by isolating them from other workers on the grounds that they are JCP members.

The court concluded that Kurabo has hated the Japanese Communist Party and its members and that it has maintained a policy to protect other employees from being JCP members or supporters. (end)