February 1, 2016
Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira during an NHK debate program which was aired on January 31 demanded that the central government add the “same job, same pay” principle to the Labor Standards Act.
Focusing on Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s policy speech mentioning that he intends to “touch upon how to bring about equal pay for equal work”, Koike asked a Liberal Democratic Party participant in the program, “What will you specifically do to achieve this?”
Acting Chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council Onodera Itsunori responded that the way is to increase wages for non-regular workers. At the same time, he said, “Regular workers are in responsible positions. So, our party will decide on policies so that a balance between them (regular/non-regular staff) can be well-balanced.”
In response to this, Koike cited the fact that the International Labor Organization (ILO) has made recommendations eight times to the Japanese government, calling for implementing the “equal pay for equal labor” principle. He again demanded, “The government should immediately start working to incorporate a provision stipulating that principle in the Labor Standards Act.”
The JCP representative also said that the state authorities should squarely face the reality of growing poverty in Japan and make efforts to address the situation. “From this perspective”, he went on to say, “I must again point out that the planned consumption tax hike will be a big mistake,” adding that what is needed is for the government to cancel the scheduled increase in tax burdens, turn to a progressive taxation system, and revise the preferential tax measures for large corporations.
Focusing on Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s policy speech mentioning that he intends to “touch upon how to bring about equal pay for equal work”, Koike asked a Liberal Democratic Party participant in the program, “What will you specifically do to achieve this?”
Acting Chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council Onodera Itsunori responded that the way is to increase wages for non-regular workers. At the same time, he said, “Regular workers are in responsible positions. So, our party will decide on policies so that a balance between them (regular/non-regular staff) can be well-balanced.”
In response to this, Koike cited the fact that the International Labor Organization (ILO) has made recommendations eight times to the Japanese government, calling for implementing the “equal pay for equal labor” principle. He again demanded, “The government should immediately start working to incorporate a provision stipulating that principle in the Labor Standards Act.”
The JCP representative also said that the state authorities should squarely face the reality of growing poverty in Japan and make efforts to address the situation. “From this perspective”, he went on to say, “I must again point out that the planned consumption tax hike will be a big mistake,” adding that what is needed is for the government to cancel the scheduled increase in tax burdens, turn to a progressive taxation system, and revise the preferential tax measures for large corporations.
