Labor Ministry will open free counselling to eliminate unpaid forced overtime work

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will open a free telephone counselling service to eliminate unpaid overtime work. Full-time advisors will take calls at all labor bureaus throughout Japan.

The ministry requested 160 million yen for the service in the FY 2004 budget.

The ministry says it will try to get rid of the illegal labor environment by strengthening inspection systems and reforming corporate culture in cooperation with labor and management.

Japanese Communist Party Ozawa Kazuaki in charge of labor issues in the JCP Dietmembers Group said that the service is to respond to increasing complaints filed by workers or families for the redress of unpaid overtime work.

The phrase "unpaid overtime work" was first used in May 1976 when a JCP Dietmember was condemning the illegal labor practice at an Upper House committee meeting. Since then, the JCP has called for the eradication of unpaid overtime work 241 times in total at both upper and lower houses. JCP Dietmembers have made more than 60 percent of 395 Diet questionings over the unpaid overtime work. (end)