Japan Press Weekly

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2008 December 23 - 2009 January 6 [LABOR]

Zenroren and other civic organizations provide relief to laid-off temporary workers in tent village

About 500 temporary workers who were fired and driven out of their dormitories slept in tents set up by trade unions and other non-profit organizations in central Tokyo for six days from New Year’s Eve.

The organizers of the “village for laid off temporary workers” included the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) among other trade unions. They provided free drink, food, and blankets as well as job counseling to the “villagers”.

The organizing committee’s tenacious negotiation forced the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, to arrange temporary accommodations for these people who are forced to endure a state of homelessness.

The tent village in Hibiya Park near Tokyo’s upscale shopping district was closed on January 5, and these “villagers” were moved to four different facilities, including school gymnasiums. The “villagers” and volunteers marched in demonstration to the Diet, demanding emergency relief measures for the jobless and homeless workers and emergency legislation to stop the illegal layoff of temporary workers.

On the opening day on New Year’s Eve, 129 homeless people including laid-off temporary workers arrived at the “tent village” and about 360 people, mostly from unions, began to work as volunteers.

Although the organizing committee set up 50 tents, they were soon filled with “villagers.” The organizing committee requested the Labor Ministry to provide emergency accommodations, including public school gymnasiums not in use during the New Year’s holidays.

On January 2, the Labor Ministry decided to make its auditorium available to the “villagers” until January 5.

On the evening of January 4, the day before the expiration date for its use, the Labor Ministry announced that it will set up four temporary accommodations in Tokyo and about 500 people in the tent village will be able to stay in those accommodations until January 12.

Earlier in the day, about 1,000 people including the tent village residents and volunteers held a rally at Hibiya Park and confirmed that they urged the Labor Ministry to ensure clothing, food, and housing, to provide counseling services, and to establish an emergency law for preventing employers from dismissing temporary and fixed-term contract workers.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo along with representatives of the Democratic, the Social Democratic, and other parties visited the “tent village” on the New Year’s Eve and attended a rally in the “village” on January 4.