For better working conditions: Rodo-soken holds symposium on 20th anniversary

Japan Press Weekly

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For better working conditions: Rodo-soken holds symposium on 20th anniversary

The Japan Research Institute of Labor Movement (Rodo-soken) held a symposium to discuss the outlook for improving workers’ conditions in Tokyo on December 19 in commemoration of the 20th anniversary since it was founded as the think tank of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren).

Former Daihatsu Motor Corp. worker Shibata Toshiaki reported on the current conditions of Japanese workers who are suffering from major corporations’ brutal cuts in numbers of non-regular workers as well as excessive workloads and long working hours.

Kyoritsu Women’s University Professor Janick Magne stated that French workers can eat dinner with their families every night and enjoy a public social service system that supports living conditions, including tuition-free schools and adequate child allowances.

Economist Yanbe Yukio pointed out that the crisis of Japanese workers’ employment and livelihood situation was caused by the government promotion of deregulation and its “small government” policy.

He stressed the need to improve workers’ working conditions by increasing minimum wages and regulating the use of non-regular employment, protecting their living conditions by establishing social insurance systems, and changing the economy into one led by domestic demand.

Zenroren Secretary General Odagawa Yoshikazu said that in the next year’s Spring Struggle Zenroren will call for a wage increase and revision of the Worker Dispatch Law, making use of the change in international labor standards.

- Akahata, December 20, 2009