Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2013 September 4 - 10 [LABOR]

Medical workers’ union kicks off nationwide campaign to overcome staff shortages

The Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Unions (Iroren) on September 7 started a three-month-long nationwide campaign calling for a drastic increase in the number of doctors, nurses, and nursing-care workers to ensure safety and security in medical and nursing-care facilities.

In front of Yurakucho Station in central Tokyo, Iroren members in uniform using a microphone made speeches about the work conditions in their workplaces and collected signatures in support of their petition calling for a drastic increase in medical staff.

Iroren Chair Yamada Mamiko spoke to passersby about the harsh working conditions of medical workers by saying, “Having to work on the night shift eight times a month, many nurses get worn out.” She went on to say, “Hospitals are short of nursing staff as they keep quitting due to excessive workloads,” and stated that their working conditions should be improved to make medical services safer and more secure.

Nurses in turn said, “We have to take care of 41 inpatients with only two nurses at night,” and another said, “We ardently hope that we can bring in one or two more staff.”

A 40-year-old woman said, “When my child was hospitalized, the nurses there seemed to be so busy. I hope I can obtain medical services without anxieties.”

Past related article
> Medical workers’ union will launch signature campaign seeking tighter regulations for nightshift work [July 25-27, 2013]