The Japan Labor Flash No.3
Email Journal November 4, 2003
Statistical Reports
Main Labor Economic Indicators
Current Topics
Membership dues of labor unions in Japan
Public Policies
Emergency appeal for thorough enforcement of industrial injury
prevention measures
News Clippings
Marui Group to conduct personnel evaluations once every three
months ...etc
Special Issue
A comparison between Japan and China of young people's views and
outlook on work
Statistical Reports
-Main Labor Economic Indicators October 2003-
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/estatis/eshuyo/200311/index.htm
Current Topics
-Membership dues of labor unions in Japan-
The Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) and the Research Institute for Advancement of Living Standards (RENGO-RIALS) announced the results of a survey they had conducted in May on labor unions' membership dues.
The total number of survey reply sheets received was as follows. For the survey of industrial unions, approximately 6.2 million from 42 organizations, and for the survey of independent unions, approximately 2.4 million from 571 unions.
Continued on; http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2003/no.3/membershipdues.html
Public Policies
-Emergency appeal for thorough enforcement of industrial injury prevention measures-
As a result of the series of large-scale accidents and disasters occurring at the workplace, the Japan Industrial Safety and Health Association (JISHA) issued an emergency call to its 124 member organizations, urging them to conduct total safety and hygiene management checkups and to implement measures thoroughly to prevent industrial injuries.
The number of work-related accidents and disasters in Japan has shown a downward trend over the long term. Since the beginning of this year, however, there have been signs that the number is rising again. As of the end of August, there were 980 deaths, already 13 more than the same period in the previous year. Specifically, there were 133 major accidents (those involving three or more casualties), 31 more than the same period in the previous year, causing 69 deaths (15 more than the previous year). A series of large-scale accidents and disasters have occurred since August of this year, including major fires: one in a tire factory and one in oil storage tanks, both facilities of major corporations, which are undermining people's trust in industry. The Association felt that the situation was serious to the extent that it could no longer be overlooked, and thus decided to make this urgent appeal.
The JISHA identifies problems such as reduction in safety/hygiene management functions, insufficient awareness of the need to prevent industrial injuries, and a loss of alertness to the importance of safety in general.
In connection with this, some newspapers suggested that this was an inevitable outcome of corporations laying off their more experienced middle-aged and older employees.
News Clippings
-Marui Group to conduct personnel evaluations once every three months-
Marui Co., Ltd., a clothing retailer and credit service provider, revised its personnel evaluation and salary systems in October. These systems were implemented in the wake of the transfer of its 5,200 employees--about 95% of its 5,500 regular, full-time employees--to its subsidiaries.
Under the new systems, the interval between personnel evaluations of group staff, which until now was six months, has been reduced to three months. The performance of the subsidiary with which the staff is affiliated, as well as that of each employee, will also be reflected to a greater extent in their salaries. The qualification/eligibility system has also been revised to enable more flexible transfers between subsidiaries as well as from subsidiaries to the head office.
Marui's head office will also discontinue hiring new college graduates.
Under the new system, employees hired by the subsidiaries will work
their way up in their respective companies, then be transferred to
the head office to become executive staff members.
(Nihon Keizai Shimbun, October)
-Work-related consultations and advice offered over the Internet-
The Rodo Support Center, an incorporated nonprofit organization, launched its services to provide labor-related consultations and advice over the Internet.
A majority of its staff members are in their 20s and have experienced work-related problems themselves, such as dismissals and non-payment of wages. What led them to establish this Center was their feeling that things would have been so much easier had there been a place where they could discuss their problems informally and receive advice. The Center will be run with the support of lawyers and labor unions.
The Center's webpage features frequently-asked questions, presented
in a Q&A format. The website will also disclose the names of especially
malicious corporations.
(Yomiuri Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun, October)
Special Issue
-A comparison between Japan and China of young people's views and outlook on work-
How do today's young people perceive their work and career? Needless to say, socioeconomic and cultural circumstances vary from country to country, so it is only to be expected that people's views will be different.
A recent awareness survey on work conducted by Japan Youth Research Institute revealed how youths in Japan and China viewed their work and career.
Continued on; http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2003/no.3/outlookonwork.html
