February 27, 2016
More than 80% of nursing-care workers respond that the Abe government measures have not led to an increase in their wages, revealed a questionnaire survey conducted by the National Confederation of Tarde Unions (Zenroren).
The Abe government in April 2015 increased the amount of subsidies to nursing-care facility operators with the aim of ensuring higher wages for nursing-care workers while drastically slashing the amount of compensation for those operators.
Zenroren carried out the survey of workers in the nursing-care industry between August and December 2015 about the impacts from these measures. It released the results of the survey on February 26.
According to the survey results, workers who received higher pay amounted to only 21.7% of the respondents. Looking at caregivers, only 28% said that their wages were increased.
Asked whether the government measures are effective in improving their working conditions, 19.6% of the respondents said “not much” and 60.7% said “no”, totaling 80.3%. Just 5.2% gave an affirmative answer.
At a press conference held on that day at the Labor Ministry office building, Zenroren Vice President Nemoto Takashi said, “Workers in the nursing-care industry earn about 80,000 yen less than other industry workers on average. I think, better working conditions are necessary not only for workers but also for facility operators and users.”
A member of the Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Union, who is working at a nursing-care home in Hokkaido, said, “Due to cuts in state compensation to facility operators, my employer reduced the amount paid out in seasonal bonuses. My annual income decreased by 90,000 yen last year.”
Past related articles:
> Democratic medical organizations call for increase in compensation for nursing-care facility operators [January 9, 2015]
> Nursing-care workers earn Y90K/m less than workers in other industries [April 24, 2014]
The Abe government in April 2015 increased the amount of subsidies to nursing-care facility operators with the aim of ensuring higher wages for nursing-care workers while drastically slashing the amount of compensation for those operators.
Zenroren carried out the survey of workers in the nursing-care industry between August and December 2015 about the impacts from these measures. It released the results of the survey on February 26.
According to the survey results, workers who received higher pay amounted to only 21.7% of the respondents. Looking at caregivers, only 28% said that their wages were increased.
Asked whether the government measures are effective in improving their working conditions, 19.6% of the respondents said “not much” and 60.7% said “no”, totaling 80.3%. Just 5.2% gave an affirmative answer.
At a press conference held on that day at the Labor Ministry office building, Zenroren Vice President Nemoto Takashi said, “Workers in the nursing-care industry earn about 80,000 yen less than other industry workers on average. I think, better working conditions are necessary not only for workers but also for facility operators and users.”
A member of the Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Union, who is working at a nursing-care home in Hokkaido, said, “Due to cuts in state compensation to facility operators, my employer reduced the amount paid out in seasonal bonuses. My annual income decreased by 90,000 yen last year.”
Past related articles:
> Democratic medical organizations call for increase in compensation for nursing-care facility operators [January 9, 2015]
> Nursing-care workers earn Y90K/m less than workers in other industries [April 24, 2014]
