Japan Press Weekly

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2015 October 7 - 13 [LABOR]

Zenroren stages nationwide actions in solidarity on the World Day for Decent Work

Beginning with an action in Japan, a global day of action for decent work took place on October 7 in 33 countries across the globe, including Ecuador, South Africa, and Russia.

This action was called for by the International Trade Union Confederation under the banner, “End corporate greed”.

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) organized the action in Japan.

Zenroren member unions on this day took to the streets at major railway stations, busy shopping districts, and various other locations to increase public support for Zenroren’s aim to realize decent work for everyone through creating a legal framework and better working conditions, including shorter working hours and gender equality.

In a street campaign held near Tokyo’s Ikebukuro Station, Zenroren Secretary General Inoue Hisashi using a microphone criticized the forcible relaxation of the law on temporary agency workers in the latest Diet session. Expressing his determination to work for decent work, Inoue said, “In addition to reversing the deregulation of laws pertaining to temporary workers, Zenroren will work hard to create a society where more and more workers can obtain full-time jobs and where no one will treated as low-paid disposable labor.” He also stressed the need to drastically increase minimum wages throughout Japan.

A 24-year-old university student who received a Zenroren leaflet said, “I don’t want to work at a company committing illegal labor practices like power harassment and enforcing excessively long working hours. But, it is difficult to obtain information regarding the actual practices of companies. At a job interview, I can’t ask about working conditions for fear of not being offered a job. Companies should make available various information, for example the most common reason workers quit their jobs.”