August 6, 1999

Kiyoshi SASAMORI
General Secretary
Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO)

RENGO protests the steamrollering of the bill concerning the vitalization of industries under the worst employment situation in the history.

Under the name of productivity improvement, the bill is aimed at concentrating resources on core businesses and abolishing/diminishing superfluous equipment with the possibility of reducing jobs. This promotes the sense of insecurity, in particular about employment.

RENGO has requested to strengthen promotional measures for small/medium enterprises and venture businesses, as well as new employment-oriented industries. These requests have addressed to parties in the view of amending the bill. In spite of such effort, the requests are regrettable not reflected in the adopted bill.

However, there are some points that were mad possible through the cooperation with the Democratic Party of Japan and would be useful for future campaigns. First, the Minister in his explanation stated that the notification would clarify that the criteria to approve a business-restructuring plan include the respect of labour-management consultation and agreement. Second, the supplementary resolution specifies those responsibilities and duties of workers in the change of company structure will be discussed, in particular in the lights of legislative measures.

RENGO will strictly monitor the implementation of the law, particularly if the acknowledgement of qualified companies is done taking into consideration the employment stability and is following the criteria. It will also in close cooperation with its affiliates strengthen its effort to ensure labour-management consultations followed by mutual agreements. It will finally request the early enactment of a law concerning workers' protection in the case of the acquisition, or division of business.