Unionized workers demand government contractors to pay decent wages

Japan Press Weekly

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

Unionized workers demand government contractors to pay decent wages

More than 100 people took part in a gathering on October 29 in Tokyo to discuss struggles for establishment of a law or ordinance on public contracts in order to ensure proper wages for workers engaged in public works.

This event was hosted by the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and the People’s Spring Struggle Joint Committee.

Zenroren Secretary General Odagawa Yoshikazu said that the time is ripe to get a public contracts ordinance established. He called on participants to develop movements to protect public services and guarantee enough wages for workers to have a decent quality of life.

Ito Keiichi, the secretary of Zenroren’s committee on public contracts, reported that 7.5 trillion yen, or 15 percent of Japan’s GDP, is produced by public works projects that involve 10 million workers. He pointed out that the poor working conditions of workers have led to a lower overall quality in public services.

A representative of the All Japan Construction, Transport and General Workers' Union (Kenkoro) revealed that a public-interest corporation that provides jobs for elderly people submits low bids for public works projects in order to make use of the elderly as a cheap workforce.

A member of the National Union of Welfare and Childcare Workers said, “Full-time welfare workers even with five-years of work experience, receive wages of only 150,000 to 200,000 yen a month.”

A struggle in Kokubunji City to get the local municipality to enact an ordinance on public contracts was reported by a representative of the Tokyo Construction Workers Union (Tokyo Doken). “We have developed cooperation among constructors associations, unions, and the local municipality. We hope to have the ordinance established next year,” he said.

A representative of the Japan Federation of Prefectural and Municipal Workers' Unions (Jichiroren) reported on its research of U.K. residents’ struggles to establish a “living wage” system.

Japanese Communist Party Daimon Mikishi reported on struggles in the Diet regarding the enactment of a law on public contracts.

- Akahata, October 30, 2009