Japan Press Weekly

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2008 October 8 - 14 [LABOR]

JCP Shii calls for drastic revision of the Worker Dispatch Law

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo made use of his allotted time at the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on October 7 to urge the government to restore the Worker Dispatch Law to status quo ante (1999) in order to prevent employers from using temporary workers as disposable labor.

The Worker Dispatch Law was revised in 1999 to make it legal to use temporary workers in almost all job categories.

Shii emphasized that the government should prohibit companies from dismissing temporary workers who sought relief from illegal labor practices and order companies to offer temporary workers full-time positions if they were found in violation of the law.

Shii exposed the harsh treatment of temporary workers, who were dismissed because of their role as whistleblowers at the Tokushima Prefecture-based Nichia Corporation, the blue light-emitting diode (LED) manufacturer, and Canon’s Utsunomiya Optical Products Plant in Tochigi Prefecture that illegally used temporary workers disguised as independent contractors.

Prime Minister Aso Taro said, “If that is true, it is really unjustifiable.”

Following the budget committee meeting, Shii said to reporters, “Prime Minister Aso’s reply is important. Now is the time for the government to take the necessary measures to prevent companies from abusing temporary workers, including unjustifiable dismissals.”

Listening to Shii grill the prime minister, Shimamoto Makoto who was dismissed from Nichia said, “I was inspired by Chair Shii’s taking up my case at the budget committee meeting. I will do all I can to achieve a positive result as soon as possible.”

Miyata Yuji, a member of the contingent workers’ union at Canon in Utsunomiya, said, “I don’t want to just succumb to Canon and suffer in silence. Shii spoke for me. I filed a lawsuit against Canon. His interpellation was a great encouragement to me.”