January 22, 2022

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira, in his interpellation at the Upper House plenary session on January 21, criticized Prime Minister Kishida Fumio for turning his back on the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and for opposing a "no-first use of nuclear weapons" policy which the U.S. Biden administration is considering.

Koike told PM Kishida that 71% of the general public in an opinion poll favored Japan's participation in the TPNW and that more than 85% supported Japan's attendance as an observer at the TPNW Conference of State Parties. Koike demanded that Kishida as the prime minister of "the only A-bombed country in the world" play a part in pressing nuclear-weapon states to abandon their nuclear arsenals by appealing to the international community about the inhumane consequences following the use of nuclear arms.

PM Kishida, despite admitting to the significance of the N-ban treaty, rejected calls for Japan's participation on the grounds that all nuclear-weapon states have refused to sign the treaty.

Koike moved on to the issue of a gender gap in pay. Pointing out that the average annual earnings of female workers is 2.4 million yen less than that of male workers, he said that eliminating this gap will serve as a basis for a gender equal society. He demanded that the government gather precise information regarding gender-based wage disparities, and that the "Act on the Promotion of Female Participation and Career Advancement in the Workplace" obliges employers to make public their wage differences between female and male employees.

PM Kishida, however, gave an ambiguous answer and evaded touching on the law on women's career advancement.

Koike continued his interpellation with the issue of workplace harassment. He noted that although Japan had voted for an ILO convention to ban workplace violence and harassment, it is yet to ratify the convention. He pointed out that among developed countries, only Japan does not have a legal stipulation prohibiting workplace harassment.

Presenting serious examples of sexual harassment and power harassment at work, Koike asked Kishida, "Are you aware of the problem that such workplace harassment abuses workers’ human rights and causes serious physical and mental damage to victims? Are you aware of the need to correct this problem immediately?"

PM Kishida in response said, "The intent of the LLO convention is reasonable," but added, "It requires further consideration (on whether Japan ratifies it)." By saying this, Kishida indicated his stance of putting off dealing with this issue.

Past related articles:
> Gender gap in average annual wage is 2.4 million yen in Japan [December 21, 2021]
> Japan opposes possible US policy of 'no-first use of nuclear weapons' [April 7, 2021]