JCP in street campaign calls for regulations to provide decent working conditions

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JCP in street campaign calls for regulations to provide decent working conditions

The Japanese Communist Party on January 23 took to the streets in downtown Tokyo calling on passers-by to oppose an adverse revision of labor laws.

JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi said the JCP will work hard to block the introduction of a "white-collar exemption" system that will remove working hour regulations and to establish regulations providing decent working conditions.

Ichida pointed out that business circles are aiming at legalizing the prevalence of unpaid overtime work.

Referring to a well-known entrepreneur's recent remarks that employees themselves be held responsible for overwork that may cause death because of a lack in self-discipline, Ichida said, "This system will destroy the correlation between working hours and wages, thus removing restrictions on employers in forcing employees to work longer hours."

Ichida also said the JCP will make every effort to address the issues of the "working poor", the sharp increase in contingent workers, and disguised contract work.
- Akahata, January 24, 2007