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Labor federations criticize Nippon Keidanren's 2006 position paper

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) on December 13 published a statement criticizing the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren)'s 2006 Position Paper on Management and Human Resources for trying to dismantle the Spring Struggle annual labor negotiations.

Zenroren said, "We reject that the position paper's call for the annual wage increment to be reviewed and for employees to be rewarded with lump-sum bonuses according to performance on the grounds that most corporations cannot afford to raise the world-leading wage standards."

Referring to the position paper's call for a major consumption tax increase and adverse revisions of the health insurance system, Zenroren criticized Nippon Keidanren for trying to shift the burdens on corporations onto the public.

The Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) on the same day also said the Nippon Keidanren's 2006 position paper is seeking to put an end to collective bargaining on wages and leave it to negotiations between the individual union and the employer, disregarding the social character of labor talks.

Rengo argued that Nippon Keidanren is reluctant to address the immediate problems, including decreasing disposable income for workers, anxiety about the future, and bipolarization in wages.

Rengo also questioned the idea of reflecting short-term achievements only in bonuses, and demanded that Nippon Keidanren put more emphasis on improvement of salaries.

Rengo, however, regarded the position paper as a common ground between Rengo and Nippon Keidanren.
- Akahata, December 15, 2005