Japan Press Weekly

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2015 November 11 - 17 [LABOR]

Nearly half of female temporary workers experience ‘maternity harassment’

Nearly half of female temporary agency workers have experienced discriminatory treatment due to their pregnancy or recent childbirth, also known as “maternity harassment”. This was revealed in survey results that the Labor Ministry released on November 12. This is the first survey on “maternity harassment” by the ministry.

According to the survey results, the percentage of those who experienced such unfair labor practices was 48.7% for temporary workers and 21.8% for full-time regular workers.

The use of abusive language by supervisors to hamper pregnant workers from claiming their legitimate rights made up the largest proportion (47.3%) in types of harassment, followed by unfair dismissal (20.5%) and unilateral termination of contracts (21.3%).

The Japanese Communist Party has worked on this issue in the Diet which led to the carrying out of the labor ministry’s survey.

In March 2014 at a House of Councilors Cabinet Committee meeting, JCP Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki urged the government to conduct a survey on maternity harassment, instruct companies to implement preventive measures, and provide counseling services to workers suffering pregnancy discrimination. The then minister in charge of gender equality replied that the government will investigate the issue and consider taking necessary measures.

Past related article:
> Names of corporations discriminating against pregnant workers to be made public [April 4, 2015]