The government and business circle are intended to create a special zone of employment exempted from the labor laws: employers are to carry out practices of carefree, casual employment of workers and easy firing at anytime. They want to set up a Japanese employment standard. Under the circumstances the New Socialist Party (NSP) will stage a labor consulting campaign across the country during December 1 and 14. Let's prepare ourselves for solving troubles which workers suffer from.


LET'S SOLVE ISSUES BY WHICH WORKERS ARE TORMENTED


Even prestigious universities is black


A so-called 'black company' compels workers to work desperately: employers threaten workers, shouting 'work hard because you have half a skill of a usual worker' or 'you are not deserved to be paid'. Such a company employs a lot of newly graduates to oblige them to work for long hours with low wages, taking advantage of today's harsh job hunting. Later employers pick up convenient ones, enforcing the rest a voluntary leave from the workplace.


A worker complains: the job is tight and the employer would not pay for overtime work. When he/she asks employers to quit, permission is not given. Some young people get sick or depression, or die of hard work or commit a suicide. A dream of young people is killed.


Black enterprises plague in the restaurant chains, the apparel industry and IT sector, in which well-known firms are enlisted. The evil extends to even famous universities. The Japanese society as a whole is being eroded. If the situation is left intact, the entire country will sink in the darkness.


Recently I asked an NPO center based in Tokyo some questions. Personnel in its labor issue office explained me about claims of workers; over 30% of them are concerned about bullying as well as sexual harassment. Complaints increase about sexual harassment and denial of job quitting.


The Constitution of Japan proudly specifies respect for the basic human rights. But black companies openly break laws to operate business, involving in illegitimate acts.


The minimum wage in the fiscal 2013 is Yen764 per hour on the national average, which is by Yen15 higher than that of last fiscal. If the figure is calculated on the monthly basis, it results in only Yen131,195. In addition, workers are not paid for overtime work, which torments them in desperation.


Labor unions


Numerous trade unions have been set up lately throughout the country. Approximately 50 unions of them are organized with the efforts of our party members. Some of the local-based unions are founded after they have engaged in the consulting campaigns. They call people to come to consultation through internet or openly appeal on the street and at the railway stations every month.


Human resources are developed to cope with the campaign. Some unions regularly organize a group to study on the actual trouble cases with presence of lawyers specializing in the labor issues. These achievements are outcomes of several rounds of the campaigns.


We appeal in more and more occasions that the most reliant safety net for workers is a labor union and troubles should be solved by participating in it. Workers have nothing to defend themselves but a union.


The 5th round nationwide consulting campaign will be held in the intensive way for two weeks; party members appeal on the street, listening to voices and claims of workers. In the preparatory stage it is the key to organize a study group to analyze actual trouble cases as well as mutually discuss significance of the nationwide campaign.


Let's prepare ourselves to cope with solving difficulties brought in the consultation office. Let's appeal on the streets or use internet to save workers distressed and agonized alone.


November 19, 2013