Japan Press Weekly

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2014 July 2 - 8 [LABOR]

Non-regular workers sue Japan Post for equal working conditions

Nine non-regular workers at Japan Post on June 30 filed with the Osaka District Court a lawsuit demanding equal treatment with regular workers.

The nine workers aged between 33 and 62 are working at Japan Post facilities in Osaka, Hyogo, and Hiroshima prefectures under fixed-term employment contracts. They are members of the Postal Industry Workers’ Union which is affiliated with the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and the National Trade Union Council (Zenrokyo). Three union members at Japan Post in Tokyo on May 8 also filed a similar lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court.

The plaintiffs claim that in spite of doing the same tasks as regular workers, the former is excluded from being entitled to take paid sick and seasonal leave and do not receive various types of fringe benefits such as an extra allowance for work during year-end holidays and new-year holidays. Furthermore, regarding payment for working on public holidays, fixed-term employees are paid 40% less than regular employees.

The nine workers argue that these disparities violate Article 20 of the Labor Contract Law banning unreasonable differences in working conditions between regular workers and non-regular workers.

They are also seeking back wages in association with a revision of working conditions.

At a press conference after the filing, the plaintiffs said that they will make the utmost effort to demand better working conditions so that non-regular workers can take pride in their work.