Japan Press Weekly

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2015 November 25 - December 1 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

‘My Number’ system already adversely affects transgender people

The Social Security and Tax Number system, also called ”My Number” system, which will commence full-scale operation in January 2016, already have a harmful effect on transgender people at their work places, a survey by a supporting group showed.

In Japan, many transsexual people are living their social lives as the opposite gender, but are normally unable to change their officially-registered sex. They usually keep their birth sex secret at the workplace in fear of discrimination.

The government in October started the delivery of the “My Number” notification cards on which people’s sex at birth is registered. After the full-scale operation of the ID number system begins, all employees will be required to show the ID cards to their employers.

A citizen’s organization named GID, which works to support sexual minorities, in September carried out an online survey of transgender people regarding possible problems in regard to the My Number system and 309 people responded.

Around 80% of the respondents said that they do not want to show their My Number cards to their employers because they believe it will or may cause problems.

Among the respondents, some said that they already quit their jobs because they would suffer mental pain if their co-workers find out that they live in a different gender. Others said that they had gotten fired every time their registered sex was revealed at their workplaces and that if dismissed again, they would have little or no chance of getting a job.

Following the survey, GID on October 16 submitted to the government a written petition demanding that notation of gender be removed from the My Number cards. They also call on the government to make sure that no transgender people will suffer unfair dismissals under this system.

Kurashima Marina of GID, who is in charge of the survey, said, “Transgender people will often undergo various disadvantages such as bullying and harassment if their sex at birth is revealed in their workplaces.” She said that she wants the general public to know about these people’s anxiety in relation to the ID number system.

Past related article:
> Sex registration on ‘My Number’ cards backpedals on efforts to eliminate discrimination against LGBT people [June 7, 2015]