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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Suzuki Motor ordered to compensate JCP member workers

The Shizuoka District Court on September 5 ordered Suzuki Motor Co. to pay a total of 35 million yen in compensation to six of seven former and current workers who claimed that they were discriminated against in wages, bonuses, and retirement payments because they were Japanese Communist Party members.

The court recognized that the company interfered with plaintiffs distributing flyers and making speeches in front of its main gate and provided anti-JCP education at manager training programs. It said, "Suzuki managers detested the activities of the plaintiffs as JCP members and gave them low evaluations without reason."

Six of the seven plaintiffs received the lowest evaluations. The monthly wage for one of them was 212,100 yen while he was working for Suzuki for 42 years. The plaintiffs were insisting that their annual wages were 860 thousand to 2.6 million yen less than their colleagues with the same academic backgrounds and lengths of service.

Plaintiff representative Akiyama Yuji said, "It is significant that the court recognized Suzuki's 30-year discrimination against JCP members. We hope that the company accepts the ruling and fulfills its social responsibilities." -- Akahata, September 6, 2005