Japan Press Weekly

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2011 January 26 - February 1 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Shii questions PM’s policy speech

In his question in response to the prime minister’s policy speech delivered on January 24, the JCP leader in the House of Representatives brought up the issue of Japanese workers’ decreasing wages.

Shii introduced recommendations issued by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) which urge the Japanese government to end its conventional method of keeping employees’ salaries low on the grounds of trade competitiveness and to raise their payrolls in order to expand domestic demand and create more jobs. Shii urged PM Kan to carry out a package of wage hikes.

Concerning decent labor rules, Shii criticized Japan Airlines’ recent dismissal of 165 pilots and cabin attendants, demanding that the government instruct JAL to withdraw the mass firing. Prime Minister Kan answered that he is leaving this issue to a court decision.

Shii expressed opposition to Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement and called for the establishment of fair trade rules that ensure nations’ food sovereignty. Citing the Agriculture Ministry’s estimate that by joining the TPP, Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate will drop to 13%, he asked how the government will achieve its purported goal of raising the rate to 50%. Kan did not respond to this question.

As for the reform of the social security and tax systems that the prime minister proposed, Shii stated, “It is out of the question to cut social welfare services, give generous tax breaks to large firms, and raise the consumption tax rate.”

The JCP chair condemned the argument calling for the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and U.S. bases in Okinawa to be strengthened as countermeasures against territorial issues affecting Japan. Stressing that diplomatic efforts must first and foremost be made for any resolution of international issues, he urged the government to promote a peace diplomacy based on Article 9 of the Constitution.