The JIL Labor Flash Vol.43
Email Journal 02.06.2003
Statistical Reports
Main Labor Economic Indicators
Current Topics
Employers' organizations submit joint proposal regarding hiring
of young workers ...etc
Public Policies
The number of individual labor dispute consultations top 100,000
in FY2002
News Clippings
Job-hunting university students investigate employees' average years
of service when choosing a company ...etc
Special Issue
Reform of the public service personnel system and basic labor rights
Statistical Reports
-Main Labor Economic Indicators May 2003-
http://www.jil.go.jp/estatis/eshuyo/200305/econtents.htm
Current Topics
-Employers' organizations submit joint proposal regarding hiring
of young workers-
In May, Nippon Keidanren and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and
Industry submitted to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry a
joint proposal on the promotion of recruitment and fostering of human
resources focusing on young people.
As measures addressing non-employed youths, the proposal calls for new
programs carried out by close collaboration among schools, corporations,
and the administration. It also urges that a comprehensive strategic
plan be drawn up to this end.
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2003a/vol.43/jointproposal.html
Public Policies
-The number of individual labor dispute consultations top 100,000
in FY2002-
A total of 625,572 requests for consultations were sent in to 300
Comprehensive Labor Consultation Centers nationwide in FY2002. Of these,
the number of consultations related to so-called civil labor disputes,
such as dismissals and lowering of conditions that do not violate labor
-related laws, topped 103,000. A survey by the Ministry of Health,
Labour and Welfare revealed that about 3,000 of these cases involved
a request for mediation by the Dispute Coordinating Committee, after
the parties failed to resolve the problem with the support provided by
heads of prefectural labor bureaus to achieve voluntary resolution (such
as advice and guidance/instructions). Since this system was launched in
the latter half of FY01, the number of individual labor dispute
consultations has steadily increased, reflecting the severe economic
and recruiting situations.
The most frequently consulted-on labor disputes involved dismissals
(28.6%), followed by lowering of labor conditions (16.5%), and pressure
to retire (6.3%). As for the length of time required for processing
mediations, 96.5% of the cases were resolved within 3 months. A majority
of dispute settlement applicants were workers (97.9%), although 57
enterprises (1.9%) applied for consultations. More than half (55.7%)
were people working for business offices that had no labor unions.
To cope with the constantly increasing number of requests for
consultations, the Ministry has decided from the current fiscal year
to assign 50 more labor dispute investigators to be in charge of
resolving individual labor disputes, and to increase the number of
members of the Dispute Coordinating Committee (which carries out
mediation and dispute settlement) from 174 to 300.
(Reference: JLF Vol.13, Vol.31/Public Policies)
News Clippings
-Job-hunting university students investigate employees' average years
of service when choosing a company-
An increasing number of job-seeking university students have begun
using employees' average number of years of work as one of their indices
for choosing a company. With drastic changes being seen in the employment
environment, including the collapse of the lifetime employment system and
rising job mobility, it appears that students are beginning to feel that
companies with low employee turnover take good care of their employees,
and give them more freedom. Others feel this to be an indication of the
growing wish for job stability among youths who have seen or heard about
rampant layoffs among their parents' generation.
The Editorial Department of "Shushoku Shikiho (Recruitment Quarterly)"
notes a growing number of questions sent to them over the past few years,
posed by their readers and recruitment seminar participants, asking them
how they can analyze employees' average number of years of work with a
company, and for information on companies that do not disclose such
figures. It is true that employee turnover differs sharply from company
to company. According to the magazine's FY2004 edition, the shortest
average number of years for employees at information and communications
companies is 3.6 years, and the longest, 17 years.
(Yomiuri Shimbun, May)
-A market economy perspective introduced to the welfare sector-
Swan Cafe and Bakery is run by Swan, a subsidiary of Yamato Transport
Co., Ltd. that provides door-to-door delivery, moving, and other day-to
-day transport services. The concept behind opening the store was to
introduce a market economy perspective to welfare programs targeting
intellectually disabled individuals. Swan set up the store with the hope
of providing a place where people with disabilities can earn 100,000 yen
per month.
The store manager explains that, of the 23 employees, 14 have
intellectual disabilities, Down's syndrome, autism, and other disabilities.
"The customers love our employees' genuine smiles that they never see
from brusque and impersonal fast-food restaurant employees. As long as
we provide them with a nice, steady environment, they perform just like
anyone else." The store is doing such good business that it is giving
their employees not only 100,000 yen but even bonuses as well.
Disabled individuals usually work out of sight and for low wages.
Dealing with, and waiting on, customers is an important business area
for the service sector. Although many people feel uncomfortable about
putting people with disabilities on the front line, Swan has challenged
and dispelled these prejudices. People who were touched by this attempt
to "turn a non-profit scheme into a business" are currently working with
overseas and regional universities as well as municipalities to launch
a Swan Cafe and Bakery branch shop hiring disabled persons in the community.
(Nihon Keizai Shimbun, May)
Special Issue
-Reform of the public service personnel system and basic labor rights-
Reform of the public service personnel system was proposed by the
Koizumi Administration two years ago, as part of its declared commitment
to push for structural reforms in Japan. There is a risk, however, that
unless some sort of agreement is reached among government, labor and
management, submission of the bill to the current Diet session will
be postponed.
Since 1948, when Japan was under US occupation, the basic labor rights
of Japanese public service personnel have been restricted as follows.
(1) Public service personnel engaged in clerical work: Have the right
to organize, but collective bargaining and strikes are banned.
(2) Industrial civil service staff members such as those engaged in
printing, minting coins and notes, and forestry: Have the right to
organize and to collective bargaining, but strikes are banned.
(3) Police, Fire Department, Self Defense Force and prison employees:
Organizing, collective bargaining, and strikes are banned.
Continued on;
http://www.jil.go.jp/english/archives/emm/2001-2003/2003a/vol.43/reform.html
