Japan Press Weekly

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2013 July 31 - August 13 [LABOR]

JCP forms task force for elimination of ‘black corporations’

Japanese Communist Party members of the both Houses on August 7 set up a task force to tackle the so-called “black corporation” problem.

In the first meeting of the task group held in the Diet building, Member of the House of Councilors Yamashita Yoshiki, who heads the group, pointed out that the JCP has been taking up the issue of black corporations’ abusive labor practices in Diet sessions using their actual names, blamed the government for contributing to the increase in the abuse of workers through relaxation of labor regulations, and submitted proposals for preventing the continuance of unlawful labor practices of the “black corporations”.

“We are in position to address the issue aggressively with our increased strength in the Diet. Voters expect us to work to change policies in order to eliminate black corporations as well as issues in regard to the labor environment,” Yamashita said.

Kira Yoshiko, a member of the Upper House, said that during the election campaign last month she appealed to voters to support the eradication of black corporations based on what she heard from young people. “The society which tolerates the exploitative use of young workers has no future. I will do my utmost to change the situation,” she stated.

Member of the Upper House Tamura Tomoko, who in the Diet criticized restaurant chain Watami for its excessively long working hours, stressed the importance of having corporations strictly comply with labor laws and relevant official instructions.

The task force plans to conduct research, hold meetings with people concerned, and submit a bill to the Diet as soon as possible.

The task force consists of five Lower House members, including Kokuta Keiji, and seven Upper House members such as Kira and Tamura. JCP Acting Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki serves as head of the task force, and JCP Vice Chair Koike Akira as acting head of the team.