Government must prohibit another round of massive cuts in contingent workers by auto manufacturers

Japan Press Weekly

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

Government must prohibit another round of massive cuts in contingent workers by auto manufacturers

Japanese Communist Party representative Kasai Akira at the November 4 House of Representatives budget committee meeting demanded that the government take measures to prohibit automakers from again carrying out massive cuts in contingent jobs.

After the massive layoffs of contingent workers they carried out about a year ago, Toyota and Nissan are now recruiting contingent workers again due to the increase in production of eco-friendly cars.

Kasai stressed that Toyota and other automakers should not be allowed to repeat using and dismissing workers as a disposable workforce.

Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio responded that the government will consider requesting corporations, financial circles, and labor unions to promote full-time positions.

Kasai demanded that the government summon representatives of automakers, auto industry organizations, and electronics manufacturers as unsworn witnesses to a budget committee meeting.

The JCP representative also requested that the government extend the period of unemployment benefits payments. Pointing out that 77 percent of unemployed workers in Japan have not been provided with sufficient benefits, Kasai said that the rate is high compared with other developed countries, including the U.S. (57 percent), the U.K. (40 percent), France (18 percent), and Germany (13 percent).

Labor Minister Nagatsuma Akira took a passive attitude to Kasai’s proposal saying that restraint is needed due to the limited financial situations.

- Akahata, November 5, 2009