- Today, Rengo and its Public Sector Liaison Council have submitted to the Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) a complain concerning the violation
of Conventions 87 and 98 by the Government of Japan and asked the ILO to reach a conclusion in its Governing Body session in November this year.
The complain has been promised to be supported by international trade union organization, including the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), Public Service International (PSI), Education International (EI), Union
Network International (UNI) and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), all of which have agreed to be joint complainants.
- Laws related to the system of public service of Japan are not in conformity with international standards as they have been repeatedly pointed by recommendations and reports of various ILO bodies, including CFA. However, the Government has
not seriously taken such criticism of the ILO. It has not taken any action for improvement and the laws remains restrictive to basic trade union rights.
Furthermore, General Principles for Public Service System Reform, which have been determined by the Cabinet Meeting on 25 December 2001, proposes that the current restrictions to the basic trade union rights remain the same, while it proposes
to reduce the role of National Personnel Authority (NPA) as a compensatory measure and strengthen the power in personnel management of the Government as an employer. And this Cabinet's decision was made unilaterally without sufficient consultation
with trade unions concerned. It has further worsened the violation of ILO principles, including freedom of association in terms of both its procedure and contents.
- The Government of Japan, which is a G8 country, cannot be accepted to further violate the international labour standards, taking into consideration its role in the international community. The Government should take Rengo's appeal with sincerity,
and should respond to the examination of the CFA.
We expect and trust that the ILO proceeds with its examination without delay and issue adequate recommendations to the Government.
- Rengo and its Public Sector Liaison Council have reiterated in so many occasions that the Government should restore the basic trade union rights to public employees, establish a fair personnel management system on the basis of joint labour-management
consultation and abolish privileged treatments, such as the career or elite system and amakudari (the parachuting of a former government official to a high position in a private company). However, the Government has ignored our voices and proceeded
with the revision of National Public Service Law and Local Public Service Law. The revision bill is now planned to be submitted to the Diet at the beginning of the year 2003.
Rengo and its Public Sector Liaison Council will strengthen further their struggle for withdrawal of the Principles and increased support of the public.
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