Japan Press Weekly

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2010 June 9 - 15 [LABOR]

Labor bureau instructs cement company to end illegal use of temporary workers

Since October 2006, the Ube-Mitsubishi Nagoya branch has used a female temporary worker, who was sent by Staff Service Holdings, one of Japan’s major staffing agencies, for clerical work which falls into the “26 special job categories” under the Worker Dispatch Law.

Other than doing clerical work, what she actually did was miscellaneous office work, including serving tea for other workers in her office and taking full-time workers’ uniforms to a dry-cleaner’s.

Following her complaint over the company’s illegal use of temporary workers in April, the Aichi Labor Bureau visited the company to conduct an investigation and then gave it instructions to stop its illegal labor practices.

The Worker Dispatch Law states that if employers use temporary workers longer than the legally permitted period, they have to offer direct employment to such workers. On the other hand, the law allows employers to use temporary workers beyond the legally permitted period if they use temporary workers in “26 special job categories” which require special knowledge and technical skills.

The Japanese Communist Party has pointed out that the “26 special job categories” include regular clerical work and other jobs that do not need any extensive special knowledge or skill, and that employers take advantage of these “26 categories” and use temporary workers without restraint.

Regarding the Worker Dispatch Law revision bill now under Diet deliberation, the JCP demands that the “26 special job categories” be narrowed down based on the reality of working conditions and tasks assigned.
- Akahata, June 10, 2010