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.
During the talks, Rengo stated that a 5% unemployment rate is simply unacceptable and demanded that the government introduce emergency measures to create 1.4 million additional jobs in the service sector. Rengo called for sweeping reforms, including increased unemployment benefits, strengthened job training, and the introduction of emergency time-limit legislation for creating new jobs and promoting reemployment.
Government-labor talks had not been held since autumn 1999, when the government expressed its displeasure at Rengo's opposition to the government's pension bill reforms. Rengo questioned the government's previous decision to simply close down an avenue of discourse when faced with opposition, to which Koizumi replied that he is willing to listen to any views that will lead to a stronger Japan, wherever such views come from. The resumption of talks is an attempt by Koizumi to head off opposition to his reforms coming from within his own party. Rengo, which is seeking to focus on making constructive policy-and institution-related demands and proposal, welcomed the resumption of the talks because it sets the stage for further talks under General Secretary Sasamori, who will take over as chairman from Washio this fall.
During the talks, Rengo stated that a 5% unemployment rate is simply unacceptable and demanded that the government introduce emergency measures to create 1.4 million additional jobs in the service sector. Rengo called for sweeping reforms, including increased unemployment benefits, strengthened job training, and the introduction of emergency time-limit legislation for creating new jobs and promoting reemployment.
Government-labor talks had not been held since autumn 1999, when the government expressed its displeasure at Rengo's opposition to the government's pension bill reforms. Rengo questioned the government's previous decision to simply close down an avenue of discourse when faced with opposition, to which Koizumi replied that he is willing to listen to any views that will lead to a stronger Japan, wherever such views come from. The resumption of talks is an attempt by Koizumi to head off opposition to his reforms coming from within his own party. Rengo, which is seeking to focus on making constructive policy-and institution-related demands and proposal, welcomed the resumption of the talks because it sets the stage for further talks under General Secretary Sasamori, who will take over as chairman from Washio this fall.
