Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2012 February 22 - 28 [LABOR]

JCP Takahashi calls for countermeasure against closure of factories

Japanese Communist Party Lower House representative Takahashi Chizuko urged the government to protect workers and local economies from the ongoing closures of major manufacturers’ factories at the February 23 House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting.

Takahashi pointed out that major electronic parts maker TDK Corporation plans to reduce its 15 factories in Akita Prefecture to 9, which will lead to dismissals of several thousand people presently working at the factories along with workers at their subcontractors and related companies.

While receiving benefits from an “eco-point” system for which the government has spent 69.3 million yen, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, and NEC are conducting major restructuring schemes. “Temporary measures to stimulate consumption have no lasting effect,” said Takahashi, and called on the government to take sustained employment measures.