Photo: President Washio (right) hands the request to Prime Minister Obuchi (left) at his official residence.

On March 29, RENGO held a Government-Labor Meeting with Prime Minister Obuchi. Obuchi offered his opinion on RENGO's 7-point/27-item list of demands. In other words, the improvement of working conditions for workers in the public sector, the million-job creation, problems with pensions, medical care and dispatched works. On the one hand, Obuchi expressed that he would make efforts to consult RENGO for its opinion on measures for boosting the Japanese economy and the million-job creation. But on the other hand, he rejected RENGO's demand regarding the pension system, saying it is necessary to restrict allowance increases.

Attendants included Prime Minister Obuchi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nonaka and labor Minister Amari from the government side, and President Washio, Deputy President Enomoto, Vice Presidents Kawakami and Takato, and General Secretary Sasamori from RENGO.
President Washio started by expressing his appreciation of the significance of the meeting stating that it relates to the principle of democracy. He then continued stating "we will request the government to actively reconsider ways to improve wages and working conditions for public workers." Also he mentioned on the rapid rise of firms that downsized at the end of the fiscal year in March, and asked the government to take more definite job measures.
General Secretary Sasamori followed Washio's lead, specifically explaining RENGO's written request. He emphasized that "the government's employment measures will create no more than 770,000 jobs, which is insufficient. We petition the government to push up its implementation of the million-job creation project immediately."
Further, he explained why RENGO-endorsed members were resigned protesting over-aggressive deliberations on the "Pension Reform Bill Outline" at the Pension Council, stating that "RENGO could not help withdrawing them from the council because it could not take responsibility for deliberation results."

Responding to each point, the government shared its views.
Regarding the improvement of wages and working conditions for public workers, the government replied that "at state-controlled companies each official decides (wages and conditions) independently based on trends in the private sector. Recommendations by the National Personnel Authority for administration/management departments of those companies are compensation for limiting their basic labor rights. The government, therefore, will respect the recommendations issued by the National Personnel Authority." As for the million-job creation plan and boosting the Japanese economy, the government said, "although we announced we would create 770,000 jobs, we will make efforts for even more. The government is not planning on extending Employment Insurance nationwide." Regarding the pension system, the government stated that "the Council met 35 times to deliberate on the issues. We would like to submit the bill to the current Diet after conferring with the ruling party."