Japan Press Weekly

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2014 July 9 - 15 [LABOR]

Ex-worker sues Nikon for illegal termination of his contract

An ex-worker of optical instruments manufacturer, Nikon, on July 10 filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court claiming that the termination of his labor contract is illegal and invalid.

Hamaya Kazuhisa, 32, in February 2008 started working as an agency worker at Nikon’s Sagamihara Plant in Kanagawa Prefecture and was engaged in lens polishing and cleaning.

In September 2013, the company hired him as a fixed-term contract worker. However, six months later, Nikon refused to renew Hamaya’s contract on the grounds that it decided to reduce production.

Hamaya joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Youth Union and bargained collectively with the maker, but it failed to settle his case. The worker decided to take the case to the court demanding reinstatement, payment of back wages, and compensation for damages.

Hamaya at a press conference held after the filing said, “I expected to continue working at Nikon for a long term as I knew a contract employee who had been there for five years. I want to get back my job.”