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

Work environment continues to deteriorate

Labor experts and union workers on December 3 held a meeting in Shizuoka Prefecture on excessive workloads that are prevalent in many places of work.

IBM Japan, Ltd. in 2002 transferred about 800 employees of its hard disk drive (HDD) division to a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. without workers' consent. In May 2005, IBM integrated its work rules with Hitachi's, and cut wages and ended pay raises under the new work rules. At present, 20 workers of the All-Japan Metal and Information Machinery Workers' Union (JMIU) IBM Japan branch are fighting in court, claiming that their transfers were invalid and that they should be regarded as IBM employees.

Suzuki Motor Corp., a leading mini-vehicle manufacturer, has increased sales with a 30 percent cut in costs during the last five years. As a result, flextime was introduced and about 700 jobs were lost. The percent of regular workers in the company dropped to a 70 percent level. Pending cases in court, including lawsuits filed by Suzuki workers against Suzuki's discrimination based on ideology and Suzuki's responsibility for a worker's suicide, are due to such cruel corporate restructuring.

With a cost-cutting restructuring drive being carried out since 1998, Oki Electric Industry Co. has reduced its workforce by half, and it now uses many temporary and contract workers. Due to shifting production abroad, spinning off of the company into separate subsidiaries, and using temporary and contract workers, Oki Electric increased its profits. In contrast, its labor costs sharply fell. In its remaining sections within Japan, speed-up and the performance-based salary system have intensified competition among workers. Out of accident and sickness payments the Oki Electric group paid, 64 percent was for workers who suffered from mental and emotional disorders.
- Akahata, December 6, 2006