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

JCP issues urgent request for jobs for youth

The Japanese Communist Party on October 24 announced a set of urgent demands for measures to solve the serious employment situation of young people.

JCP Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira at a news conference in the Diet explained the 7-point plan that requires employers, including large corporations and business circles, to fulfill corporate social responsibility as well as employment responsibility and that the government take steps to eliminate illegal dismissals, long working hours, and overtime work without pay (see below).

Koike said, "A society in which young people are used as a disposable workforce has no future. The increase in unstable employment will not help young people become financially independent, affecting all areas of society such as the failing birthrate and the viability of social security programs."

The responsibility of government is to secure stable employment and working conditions so that every one can work with dignity, stated Koike.

He said that the JCP will work on educating young workers to recognize their rights by such means as distributing pamphlets and will make a concerted effort to defend their rights by putting a brake on the increase in unstable employment.

At present, the unemployment rate is particularly high among young people. A half of those age 24 years or younger are non-regular workers like temps or part-timers. In contrast, regular workers 34 years old and under are forced to work long hours. Many young workers are ignorant about workers' basic rights and corporate responsibility.

Seven points:
1. Get rid of unlawful dismissals, job cuts because of expiring contracts, short-term employment, and repetition of short-term contracts;

2. Eradicate inhumane long working hours and illegal overtime work without pay;

3. Exclude unfair discrimination and harassment from workplaces and realize equal treatment programs for non-regular workers;

4. Reduce uninsured people in social insurance programs such as pension, health, and employment insurance systems;

5. Provide clear and written indication of working conditions and end illegal employment contracts with clauses such as imposition of "fines for tardiness";

6. Increase local minimum wages and establish a national minimum wage system;

and 7. Drastically improve administrative measures to defend young people's employment and their rights as well as their working conditions. -- Akahata, October 25, 2005