The JIL Labor Flash Vol.4
Email Journal 17.09.2001
Statistical Reports
Recent Statistical Survey Reports
Current Topics
Government-Labor Talks Resumed ...etc
Public Policies
Payment of Emergency Employment Funds Begins Nationwide ...etc
News Clippings
Two Newspaper Surveys Target Unemployed Workers ...etc
Special Issue
Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate Reaches the 5.0% Mark in July
Statistical Reports
-Recent Statistical Survey Reports-
Features
Report on Employment Service (July)
Basic Survey on Schools (FY2001) ...etc
http://www.jil.go.jp/estatis/e2001-08.htm
Current Topics
-Government-Labor Talks Resumed-
Prime Minister Koizumi and other high-ranking government officials
met with Chairman Washio and other officials of the Japanese Trade Union
Confederation (Rengo) on August 27 at the Prime Minister's residence to
discuss labor and employment issues. The meeting marked the first time
in two years that the government has met with labor representatives.
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2001/vol.4/goverment.html
-Majority of Companies Freeze Starting Salary for Third Straight Year-
According to a survey conducted by the Japan Federation of Employers'
Associations (Nikkeiren), 59.8% of the 505 companies surveyed replied
that they have frozen the starting salaries they offer. This figure is
4.2 points higher than last year's and marked the third straight year
that over half the companies surveyed have frozen starting salaries.
The most frequent reason given for this was the freezing of basic
salaries.
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2001/vol.4/freezestartingsalaly.html
Public Policies
-Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) Discloses Preliminary
Budgetary Demands for FY2002-
On August 28, the MHLW submitted its preliminary budget proposal
for FY2002. In its proposal, MHLW has set aside an ordinary budget of
18 trillion 745.5 billion yen, an increase of 3.75% over FY2001.
Most of the increases come in social security and other "special
structural reform demands" in information technology and the six
other strategic sectors outlined in JIL Labor Flash Vol. 3. The increases
take into account the government's report on interim structural reforms
and employment measures, and come in ten broad categories, mostly
concerned with the establishment of employment safety nets.
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2001/vol.4/fy2002.html
-Payment of Emergency Employment Funds Begins Nationwide-
Following the announcement that the unemployment rate for July
reached 5.0%, MHLW began the payment of emergency employment creation
promotion funds on August 29. Payments will continue until February 28,
2002.
300,000 yen will be paid out to employers for each non-voluntary
jobless worker or public employment office training program attendee
between the ages of 45 and 60 that they employ. This emergency measure
was originally set to be triggered if unemployment exceeded 5.2% for
three straight months, but the conditions were subsequently loosened:
payments can now begin when unemployment reaches 5.0% in any given month.
Beginning October, the funds will also be paid out to employers who
hire additional workers through private employment agencies.
News Clippings
-Two Newspaper Surveys Target Unemployed Workers-
(1)
In a survey of 111 unemployed persons (76 male, 35 female) in
their 40s and 50s conducted at major public employment security offices
nationwide, 57% replied that they "support" Prime Minister Koizumi's
structural reforms while 40% replied that they "do not support" them.
Three percent gave no answer. The survey results suggest that a majority
of the unemployed still have hopes for a brighter future.
(Yomiuri Shimbun, August)
(2)
In a survey of 100 unemployed persons aged 30 or over, 70 replied
that "age" was an obstacle to their reemployment prospects. Other
obstacles cited frequently included "difference from expected salary,
" cited by 37 respondents, and "lack of suitable work," cited by 32
respondents. When asked about the types of safety nets that they consider
important, 48 cited the need for "better employment training programs"
while 44 cited "better job referral setups." (More than one answer could
be given to all questions.)
Of the 100 persons surveyed, 46 replied that they "support" Koizumi's
reforms, 18 replied that they "do not support" the reforms, and 36 said
that they "do not know."
(Mainichi Shimbun, August)
-Income for Fiscal 2000 at Large Corporations Rises by 6.6%-
The National Tax Administration Agency (NTAA) announced the results
of income tax declarations by 3,388 large corporations (including
insurance companies) with a paid-up capital of 3 billion yen or more
who saw their account settlement periods fall within the FY2000 income
tax declaration period. NTAA also announced the rankings for the top 50
companies. The top 50 corporations declared 7 trillion 78.8 billion yen
in income, up 6.6% from last year. All the companies in the survey
together declared 18 trillion 984.4 billion yen in income, an increase
of 13%.
(Sankei Shimbun, September)
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2001/vol.4/fiscal2000.html
Special Issue
-Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate Reaches the 5.0% Mark in July-
For the first time since government unemployment surveys started
in 1958, the adjusted monthly unemployment rate reached the 5% mark,
breaking the previous worst of 4.9% set last month.
For many years, Japan saw its unemployment rate hold steady around
the 2-3% level, even during periods when other developed nations suffered
from high unemployment. The 5% unemployment rate therefore raises serious
questions regarding the country's future.
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2001/vol.4/seasonallyadjust.html
