Japan Press Weekly

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2013 July 10 - 16 [ELECTION]

LDP discards anti-‘black corporations’ measures from election platform

The Liberal Democratic Party has abandoned from its Upper House election platform measures to regulate excessively harsh labor practices by so-called “black corporations”.

The ruling party actually put up as a House of Councilors candidate Watanabe Miki, founder of the major “izakaya” restaurant chain Watami, which won the “Black Corporation” Citizens’ Prize in 2012 hosted by a citizens’ group.

In its proposal on job-related issues published in April, the LDP included “strengthening of measures against companies which allegedly treat young employees as ‘disposable labor’.” It listed concrete measures to be taken against “black corporations,” such as taking legal actions against serious violations of labor laws and publicly announcing their names.

LDP Lower House member Suzuki Junji stated on his website, “The proposal will be included in the party’s House of Councilors election platform as well as reflected in the government’s basic policy.”

However, the descriptions regarding “black corporations” cannot be found in the party’s platform for the House of Councilors election which will be held on July 21.

In 2008, a 26-year-old Watami employee committed suicide due to the stress associated with excessively long working hours.

Past related articles:
> 8 companies nominated for ‘Black Corporation’ of the Year Award (June 28, 2013)
> ‘Black Corporation’ Award winner for worst working conditions will run in summer election on LDP ticket (June 7, 2013)
> Izakaya restaurant chain worker’s suicide recognized as work-related (February 23 & 24, 2012)