November 7, 2014
Five member unions of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) organizing nightshift workers jointly issued a statement on November 6, demanding the strengthening of restrictions on working hours.
The statement stresses the need to provide nightshift workers special measures such as shorter working hours and longer breaks in order to ensure workplace safety.
In particular, it claims that the number of nightshift hours should be limited to 32 hours a week and that a rest from one nightshift to the next should be extended to more than 11 hours.
At a press conference held in the labor ministry building, a representative of a taxi drivers’ union said, “The number of accidents resulting from drivers’ health problems has tripled compared to ten years ago. We want prompt legal reform so that we can get enough rest.”
The five unions are the All Japan Construction, Transport and General Workers’ Union (Kenkoro), the All-Japan Automobile Transport Workers’ Union (Jiko-soren), the Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Unions (Iroren), the National Union of Welfare and Childcare Workers (Fukushi-hoikuro), and the Postal Industry Workers Union. They will submit their statement to the labor ministry and the Labor Policy Council. They also plan to make representations to individual Dietmembers as well as to political party offices.
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The Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Unions (Iroren) on November 6 released its survey results regarding the nightshift situation of nursing personnel. The union surveyed 452 medical institutions and 112,508 nursing staff.
According to the survey, 30% of hospitals adopt a two-shift system. Among these hospitals, 50% of nightshift staff work more than 16 hours.
The survey also reveals harsh working conditions in many medical facilities in possible violation of the Act on Assurance of Workforce of Nurses and Other Medical Experts which prohibits more than nine days a month on the nightshift. In the medical institutions adopting a three-shift system, 23.9% of nursing personnel work more than nine days a month on the nightshift. In two-shift hospitals, 31% of medical workers are on nightshift duty more than 4.5 days a month and a majority of ICU staff also work more than 4.5 days monthly on the nightshift.
Past related articles:
> Care workers forced to work long hours at night [February 28, 2014]
> Hospitals using two-shift work system hit record high [November 12, 2013]
> Transport workers union calls for safer and better working conditions [October 17, 2012]
The statement stresses the need to provide nightshift workers special measures such as shorter working hours and longer breaks in order to ensure workplace safety.
In particular, it claims that the number of nightshift hours should be limited to 32 hours a week and that a rest from one nightshift to the next should be extended to more than 11 hours.
At a press conference held in the labor ministry building, a representative of a taxi drivers’ union said, “The number of accidents resulting from drivers’ health problems has tripled compared to ten years ago. We want prompt legal reform so that we can get enough rest.”
The five unions are the All Japan Construction, Transport and General Workers’ Union (Kenkoro), the All-Japan Automobile Transport Workers’ Union (Jiko-soren), the Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Unions (Iroren), the National Union of Welfare and Childcare Workers (Fukushi-hoikuro), and the Postal Industry Workers Union. They will submit their statement to the labor ministry and the Labor Policy Council. They also plan to make representations to individual Dietmembers as well as to political party offices.
* * *
The Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Unions (Iroren) on November 6 released its survey results regarding the nightshift situation of nursing personnel. The union surveyed 452 medical institutions and 112,508 nursing staff.
According to the survey, 30% of hospitals adopt a two-shift system. Among these hospitals, 50% of nightshift staff work more than 16 hours.
The survey also reveals harsh working conditions in many medical facilities in possible violation of the Act on Assurance of Workforce of Nurses and Other Medical Experts which prohibits more than nine days a month on the nightshift. In the medical institutions adopting a three-shift system, 23.9% of nursing personnel work more than nine days a month on the nightshift. In two-shift hospitals, 31% of medical workers are on nightshift duty more than 4.5 days a month and a majority of ICU staff also work more than 4.5 days monthly on the nightshift.
Past related articles:
> Care workers forced to work long hours at night [February 28, 2014]
> Hospitals using two-shift work system hit record high [November 12, 2013]
> Transport workers union calls for safer and better working conditions [October 17, 2012]
