President Washio stated in his opening remarks "Although I respect the fact that Government/Labor Meetings are finally being held after a break of almost two years, it is regrettable that during that time there was no dialogue established between RENGO and the government. The government should not push aside different ideas or objections without hearing them," stressing the importance of "social dialogue" which was also included in the latest Summit communique. In addition, he further stressed that "as the government proceeds with its 'backbone principles,' it should also listen to opinions at various levels especially those from employment/consumers while pursuing consensus-building through dialogue." Further Washio requested that "when making policies, we want the government to consider the feelings of the people who can not find jobs despite their efforts in resorting to Hello Work (a job clearinghouse) everyday and those of the families who support them."

Prime Minister Koizumi responded stressing that "the lack of structural reform until now was responsible for fiscal and financial policies not working out well. I have been insisting on what the Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition parties could not say including the privatization of the postal system. Without changing the current situation where the public sector deprives the private sector of work, there will be no improvement in the Japanese economy." Furthermore, Koizumi said "we will continue to work on employment measures and structural reform," and speaking his mind, he added, "we will listen to (other) opinions. It does not matter which party you support to bring about structural reform. We will take up positive proposals and opinions."

RENGO Secretary General Sasamori then described the following four points from the emergency employment measures in RENGO's demands. (1)Job creation led by the government/local government. (2) Extension of the employment insurance benefits period. (3)Establishment of a fund for skill development. (4) Temporary expansion of the system which helps pay workers back wages.
He then asserted that "the shock of the unemployment rate reaching 5% is fundamentally different from previous numbers and it suggests that there isn't a moment to lose to implement employment measures. The government must legislate emergency employment measures for a specified duration that include some sort of 'people-friendly Heisei-Era governing measures.' He especially applied pressure for a swift decision on job creation saying that it is "necessary to swiftly put into action those areas where government, labor, and management's views meet."

To which Minister Sakaguchi responded, " we realize the job situation is severe and we will take whatever measures we can for it. Although we differ in details, our direction is almost the same. We also want to consider job policies not only for the center but also for the peripheries.
Prime Minister Koizumi emphasized that the two side's direction was the same, "RENGO's plan to create more than 1.4 million jobs might not be so different from the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy's five-year plan for 5.3 million jobs." Once again appealing for the necessity of structural reform he mentioned, " they say that government measures are retrenchment fiscal policies, but there is no way to revitalize the Japanese economy except by breaking out of this cycle of debt."

Finally, Secretary General Sasamori expressed that "opening the wrong door or following the wrong path to reform at this stage could be disastrous. Simply leaving everything to the private sector will not work you must consider the people working there." Bringing attention back to RENGO's stance he said, " the government's prospective job creation numbers are merely "expected figures." The government will need to firmly support them fiscally."