2018 January 10 - 16 [
SOCIAL ISSUES]
Eligibility of JAL for bearing official emblems of 2020 Games called into question
|
Japan Airlines, an official partner of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, may be driven into reviewing its stance of ignoring ILO recommendations regarding its unfair dismissals of pilots and cabin attendants as the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee is partnered with the ILO.
The Tokyo Organizing Committee (TOC) in May 2017 concluded with the International Labor Organization (ILO) a partnership agreement aimed at disseminating the concept of “decent work” among corporations through their commitment to the quadrennial international sports event.
Meanwhile, TOC has required companies involved in the 2020 Summer Games to comply with its rules on the procurement process named the “Sustainable Sourcing Code” which calls for compliance with key ILO conventions. If TOC finds corporations violating the code, it may annul contracts with these firms. The TOC code is applied to companies awarded with Olympic contracts including their subcontractors, companies using Olympic and Paralympic logos, and Olympic partners that sponsor the Games.
JAL, which is allowed to paint various emblems of the 2020 Games on its aircraft bodies as an official partner, at the end of 2010 forced through the dismissals of 165 pilots and cabin attendants. Regarding the massive dismissal, the Supreme Court issued a ruling recognizing that the airline company illegally intervened in a strike vote by JAL unions.
JAL received ILO recommendations on three occasions calling on the airline to negotiate with unions regarding the reinstatement of dismissed workers. The recommendations were issued in accordance with key ILO conventions which are the convention on freedom of association and the convention on the promotion of collective bargaining. JAL, however, showed complete unwillingness to accept the recommendations and is under ILO observation.
Past related articles:
> Court again recognizes JAL’s unfair labor practice [June 19, 2015]
> JCP Tatsumi: Gov’t should make efforts for reinstatement of ex-JAL flight crew [March 20, 2015]