Labor/Management Seek to Clarify Employment Goals
4th Government-Labor-Management Employment Promotion Council
(5 March 1999)

On February 17, the 4th Employment Promotion Council was convened at a Tokyo hotel consisting of members from Government, Labor and Management.

RENGO and Nikkeiren (Japan Federation of Employers' Association) made the following additional request for the joint proposal "Million Job Creation Plan" last December.

  1. Clarify the number of jobs to be created related to the industry revitalization plan (RENGO estimates 900,000 jobs) and measures expanding employment, mainly in the field of education, and formally announce target numbers by field.
  2. Keep track of the progress of job creation measures and hold employment promotion meetings.

Labor Minister Amari promised that for these requests 1. the Labor Ministry will coordinate the numbers with other ministries and agencies and 2. hold follow-up meetings as needed.

Wide Ranging Talks on Improving the Standard of Living
Held at High-Level Meeting RENGO/TCCI
(5 March 1999)

On February 3, before the peak of 1999 Spring Struggle, RENGO leaders held a high-level meeting with the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) at a Tokyo hotel. Both argued over pay-hikes and shortening working hours, the structural issues of small to mid-sized businesses. Further, each side asserted their opinions on a wide range of issues including economic recovery, the creation of jobs, social security, tax reform, and the low birth rate.
Secretary General Sasamori brought up the following.

  1. At the 4th Government-Labor-Management Employment Promotion Council, RENGO requested
    that the government put in place concrete effective plans to create jobs.
  2. The current Tax System Amendment Bill will increase taxes for those in the middle-low income
    brackets, thereby putting the great brakes on expanded consumption.
  3. The deflation spiral will accelerate if pay hikes are insufficient.
  4. RENGO does not welcome any light talk about downsizing or lowering wages.
  5. People living on pensions cannot get ahead with low-interest policies. We hope the TCCI will
    keep pace with RENGO to seek to raise interest rates.

Subsequently both parties exchanged their opinions. Participants from the TCCI said "considering the current economic circumstances, it will be difficult to shorten working hours any more." "The low-interest rate policy is necessary to revive the Japanese economy for the time being." RENGO stated their views that "it is necessary to gain work-sharing putting in extra overtime with no pay into normal working hours."

Realize "Standard of Living and Employment" Stabilization Measures
At RENGO/Liberal Party Diet Briefing Session
(5 March 1999)
On February 24, the RENGO Liaison Office in the Diet and the Liberal Party held an urgent Diet briefing session to endorse the strengthening of future struggles at the Diet. Approximately 100 people in charge of politics/policies in constituent organizations gathered in Lobby No.4 on the second floor of the House of Representatives.

3 Organizations Protest against American Nuclear Test
(5 March 1999)

PhotoPhoto: People raise their fists in front of the embassy.

On February 10, RENGO, the Japan Congress Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikin), and the National Council for Peace and Against Nuclear Weapons (Kakkin) protesting against US subcritical experiments in front of the US Embassy.


HOME
Current Domestic
Actions