Hatoyama gives some positive responses to Shii

Japan Press Weekly

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

Hatoyama gives some positive responses to Shii

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo after his questioning at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on February 8 stated, “I presented Prime Minister Hatoyama with a prescription for the ailing economy and he expressed a positive response to some extent to my proposal. I think today’s discussion was fruitful.”

During the discussion, Shii proposed that the Workers Dispatch Law should tighten regulations on 26 professional practices and should not exclude these from the regulations on the dispatch of temporary workers. Hatoyama answered he would consider reviewing the contents of the law. Shii stated, “This was a step forward.”

Shii emphasized the need to launch a movement to achieve a ban on the use of all types of temporary work on assembly lines in manufactures because Hatoyama answered he would not prohibit both temporary workers regularly-employed by a staffing agency and temporary workers registered on a staffing agency list from working on assembly lines.

Regarding the need to take measures to narrow the gap in profits between large corporations and small businesses, Shii stated, “We shared some areas of concern. Hatoyama in reply to my proposal said that he would reinforce the Fair Trade Commission’s inspection systems in order to rigorously implement laws on subcontracting small and medium enterprises.”

“Hatoyama did not answer that he would provide direct assistance to cover fixed costs for family-run businesses. He, however, mentioned the need to help prevent small businesses from going bankrupt. The JCP will make efforts to establish a system of financial assistance regarding the fixed costs,” Shii added.

- Akahata, February 9, 2010