RENGO and Nikkeiren (Japanese Federation of Employers' Associations) had a top-level meeting on 17 October to exchange opinions on the job creation, the social security reform and others. They made an arrangement to summarize joint demands to the central and local governments, based on the job creation project, in which both RENGO and Nikkeiren had jointly taken part in, and to co-organize a symposium in December for stimulating the government to proceed with the medical reform. With regard to the Spring Struggle they both agreed that it would be an important stage to form a labour-management agreement.

President Washio, Deputy President Enomoto, General Secretary Sasamori and Vice Presidents on RENGOs side and Chairman Okuda, Vice Chairman and policy delegates on Nikkeiren side attended the meeting.

At the beginning Mr. Washio described that the employment situation had been serious and the tide was not still running in workers favor and the government wound not listen to our request to reopen the tripartite Employment Conference. "It is important to discuss between labour and management on issues such as social security, reform of the taxation system and the support to combine family responsibilities and work, which is prerequisite to form the society of the 21st century."

Mr. Okuda pointed out that employment situation had been far from full recovery. "It will be of the most importance to analyze changes in work ethics among young generation. And it is now necessary to discuss a new framework of employment."

Then, Mr. Sasamori of RENGO brought up the following issues:

(1)	The follow-up of the job creation co-project and requests to the central and local governments for the supplementary budget.
(2)	Reopening the tripartite Employment Conference.
(3)	Establishing fair and transparent taxation system and abolishing a special corporation tax on a pension reserve fund.
(4)	Co-organization of a symposium on the medical reform (in December).
(5)	Realization of joint appeal for the problem of declining birth rate.
(6)	The social consensus on the need for the Spring Struggle.

Managing Director of Nikkeiren, Mr. Fukuoka, stated that Nikkeiren would:

(1)	Agree with RENGO on the arrangement of requests for the job creation made to the central and local governments;
(2)	Think positively of a symposium on the medical reform;
(3)	Ask RENGO to join the request to the government for the abolition of taxing a pension reserve fund;
(4)	Take adequate measures, where applicable, in cooperation with RENGO, before enacting a law for the support to combine family and work;
(5)	Understand the need for spring labour-management negotiations.

In the exchange of views Nikkeiren emphasized following points:
— the Spring Struggle should be continued as it is the best opportunity for both to discuss the actual conditions surrounding the enterprise;
— the discretion working system must be taken into consideration in the light of maintain/strengthen the competitively in the international market.

On the other hand, RENGO insisted that:
— employees should be regarded as important on equal terms with shareholders
— the preparation of work environment for the aged and women must be made taking into account labour shortage in the long term
— laws relevant to equal treatments for part-time and temporary workers and the support to combine family responsibilities and work should be improved to the level of other industrialized countries.