Japan Press Weekly

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2007 October 24 - 30 [POLITICS]

JCP publishes appeal calling for drastic improvement in minimum wage system

The Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers’ group on October 22 published an appeal calling for a drastic improvement in the minimum wage system, including the introduction of a national uniform minimum wage system and an increase in the minimum hourly wage, for the moment, to 1,000 yen.

“The minimum wage must cover the cost of living for workers and their families to maintain the minimum standard of wholesome and cultured living,” the JCP appeal stated.

The “structural reform” policy based on the law of the jungle promoted by the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties has increased poverty as seen in the creation of four to five million “working poor” households whose living conditions do not improve no matter how hard they may work. Japan’s minimum wage is set lower than its standards for livelihood protection.

Labor unions, including the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), have tenaciously struggled to get the minimum wage increased. In cooperation with various democratic organizations, Zenroren has carried out actions across the country calling for a national uniform minimum wage system and a minimum wage of 1,000 yen.

The government and the Democratic Party submitted to the Diet bills to revise the minimum wage law, and there is a possibility that the law will be revised. In this situation, the JCP is calling for the establishment of a reliable minimum wage system.
- Akahata October 23 & 27, 2007