The JIL Labor Flash Vol.5
Email Journal 01.10.2001
Statistical Reports
Main Labour Economic Indicators / TANKAN
Current Topics
ILO Working Hours Survey and Uncompensated Overtime ...etc
Public Policies
Revised Regional Minimum Wages for Fiscal 2001 ...etc
News Clippings
Towa Introduces Four-Day Work Week at its Factories ...etc
Special Issue
First Labor Assemblies by Industry of the New Century Come to a Close
Statistical Reports
-Main Labour Economic Indicators September 2001-
http://www.jil.go.jp/estatis/econtents.htm
-TANKAN-
Short-term Economic Survey of Enterprises in Japan
-Monday October 1, released by the Bank of Japan
http://www.boj.or.jp/en/siryo/stat/tk0109.htm
Current Topics
-ILO Working Hours Survey and Uncompensated Overtime-
On August 31, the International Labor Organization (ILO) announced
the results of its worldwide survey of annual working hours.
According to the announcement, average annual working hours per worker
were longest in the Republic of Korea, followed by the Czech Republic,
USA, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Canada, the UK, and Germany.
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2001/vol.5/ilo.html
-Rengo's New Strategic Guidelines-
At its September 13 central executive board meeting, the Japanese
Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) confirmed its new strategic guidelines
for its regular general conference, scheduled on October 4-5.
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2001/vol.5/rengo.html
Public Policies
-Revised Regional Minimum Wages for Fiscal 2001-
On September 3, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)
announced revised regional minimum wages for fiscal 2001. The average
weighted minimum wage for the nation was 5,292 yen per day, a 36 yen
increase over the previous year. The minimum hourly wage was 664 yen,
a five yen increase. By percentage, the daily wage increased by 0.68%
while the hourly wage increased by 0.76%.
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2001/vol.5/regionalminimumwages.html
-Government Sets New Employment Measures Proposal-
On September 20, the Headquarters for Industrial Structural Reform
and Employment Measures (chaired by Prime Minister Koizumi) announced
it will introduce a bill for comprehensive employment measures,
designed to minimize the pain associated with structural reforms,
to create new industries, and establish a basis for future economic growth.
The measures focus on the three employment solutions of creating
new jobs, ensuring a better match between labor demand and supply,
and establishing employment safety nets. Specific suggestions include
presenting measures that will make it easier for universities with basic
research capabilities to help establish venture businesses and train
50,000 career counselors over the next five years to offer employment
advice to individuals.
News Clippings
-Towa Introduces Four-Day Work Week at its Factories-
On September 13, Towa, a semiconductor manufacturing instruments company,
has announced that, beginning in October, it will introduce a four-day
work week at its factories. Towa has seen its business decline because
of investment cuts by semiconductor manufacturers. Towa has said that
it will not solicit voluntary retirement for the time being; instead,
it will cut labor costs by shortening the work week. Towa's decision to
protect employment but cut wages in a form of a "work sharing" arrangement
is rare in Japan.
(Nikkei Shimbun, September)
-Business Merger between Tanabe Seiyaku and Taisho Pharmaceutical-
On September 17, Taisho Pharmaceutical (headquarters in Tokyo),
the eighth largest pharmaceutical company in Japan, and Tanabe Seiyaku
(headquarters in Osaka), the tenth largest, announced that the two
companies will merge and set up a holding company next April.
The pharmaceuticals field has been marked by extensive international
M&As in search of the perfect R&D mix, and the Japanese pharmaceutical
market, long protected by regulations, will be no exception.
Turnover for the new company is expected to reach 470 billion yen,
which will make it the third largest pharmaceutical company in Japan,
after Takeda Chemical Industries and Sankyo, and about the 20th largest
in the world. In addition to increased M&As overseas, foreign capital
companies such as Pfizer (USA), Novartis Pharma (Switzerland), and Banyu
Pharmaceutical have stepped up competition in Japan.
(Asahi Shimbun, September)
Special Issue
-First Labor Assemblies by Industry of the New Century Come to a Close-
Regular assemblies of Rengo-affiliated labor organizations were held
between July and September. Over this time, the Japanese labor market
took a turn for the worse; major corporate restructuring news were in
the papers almost daily. An election for seats in the Upper House was
also held, resulting in a landslide victory for the Liberal Democratic
Party swept along by Prime Minister Koizumi's reforms and continuing
popularity. These developments revealed the decreased political influence
of labor organizations. (See previous JIL Labor Flash volumes)
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2001/vol.5/industry.html
We, JIL have published new books in English.
- They are useful for your better understanding of Japan.
"White Paper on Labor and Economy 2001"
"The Labor Situation in Japan 2001"
"Japanese Working Life Profile 2001- Labour Statistic"
Please open JIL Home Page. You can see the detailed introduction of them.
URL; http://www.jil.go.jp/epublic/books.htm
