Japan Press Weekly

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2013 August 21 - 27 [LABOR]

Manga publisher dismisses whistleblower

A female unionized worker is waging a struggle against a manga publisher, demanding withdrawal of her dismissal following her reporting of illegal acts by the company.

At Akita Publishing Co., Ltd., publisher of teenage manga magazines and books, the 28-year-old worker was assigned to send gifts to magazine readers who won prizes in sweepstakes held by the company for four years since 2007.

She realized that the number of prizes she was ordered to send to readers was frequently fewer than what was announced in sweepstakes.

When she urged her boss to stop such dishonest acts, she was ordered to ignore the corporate wrongdoing and continue her job. Although she followed the company’s orders, she developed health problems associated with stress, such as a sleeping disorder. She took sick leave in September 2011. Five months later, the company dismissed her.

While joining the Tokyo Young Contingent Workers’ Union to negotiate with the publishing company for withdrawal of her dismissal, the worker reported to the Consumer Affairs Agency about the publisher’s misbehavior.

Based on her report, the agency on August 20 ordered the company to end the practice of cheating readers entering its sweepstakes.