Japan Press Weekly

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2012 June 20 - 26 [CIVIL RIGHTS]

City workers involved in political activities to be dismissed: Osaka mayor

Osaka City Mayor Hashimoto Toru on June 21 announced his plan to propose a municipal ordinance bill which would discharge city workers involved in political activities.

The bill infringes on the right to freedom of expression and political activities which is guaranteed by the Constitution.

Hashimoto intends to submit the bill to an extraordinary session of the city assembly in July and enact it as early as possible.

The ordinance bill lists a variety of political activities such as distribution of political handouts, planning or organizing a demonstration or rally, and delivering speeches at political rallies, which are prohibited by the Government Official Act. The bill would ban city workers from taking part in any of these activities.

The city mayor had aimed to set up an ordinance imposing penalties on workers who are engaged in political activities. The national government, however, on June 19 stated in cabinet decision that penalizing municipal workers for their political activities would go against the Local Public Service Law because such activities can be controlled by the threat of disciplinary action.