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

Zenroren and Rengo: Stop government attempt to adversely revise labor law

About 350 union workers on June 27 gathered in front of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare respectively to urge the ministry to stop its attempt to adversely revise the labor law that would abolish the 40-hour workweek. They were members of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), and the National Trade Union Council (Zenrokyo).

The action, organized by the three labor organizations separately, was timed to coincide with a government panel meeting in which the ministry presented a draft bill.

Iwata Yukio, Zenroren deputy secretary general, criticized the ministry for trying to enact the bill that will give management the freedom to fire workers, cut wages, and force workers to work without pay. "Let's scrap the bill before the ministry submits it to the next Diet session," he stressed.

Koga Nobuaki, Rengo secretary general, emphasized that the bill is a source of deep concern for every worker.

Nakaoka Motoaki, Zenrokyo secretary general, warned that the bill will help increase unpaid overtime work and karoshi (death from overwork).
- Akahata, June 28, 2006