WEEKLY RENGO

The 25nd Central Executive Committee Meeting
Understand Conditions and Fortify Measures
"Activities and Action for Part Time Labor Month" Established
(31 August 2001)

At the 25th Central Executive Committee Meeting on September 3, RENGO endorsed the establishment of the "Activities and Actions for Part time Labor Measures Month [November] " (tentative). This was designed to better grasp the real conditions of part-time labor at affiliated organizations and local RENGO, while at the same time advancing activities that will fortify measures as part of the recent diversification in employment types, etc.
RENGO will begin campaign activities in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfares "Part-time Labor 10-Day Campaign "scheduled to start in early November.

1. Mission and Goals
Our mission is to understand and organize actual conditions surrounding the issues and problems of part-time labor at affiliated organizations and local RENGO as part of a trend toward diversification of types of employment and a "summary" of the 2001 Spring Struggle.
More precisely, we will establish "Part-time Labor Month" in November to examine the problems of part-time labor while teaming up with the MHLW's "Part Time Labor 10-Day Campaign" and other activities that spread awareness about local minimum wages. At the same time we will also conduct activities to fortify measures for part-time labor within organizations and out and redirect those efforts back into next year's Spring Struggle.

2. Specific Actions
(1) Specifically, we will conduct the following:

	1.	RENGO will carry out campaign activities in conjunction with the MHLW's "Part-time Labor 10-Day Campaign"(in early November.) * We will publicize the principles of equal treatment as much as possible even in those non-union workplaces. * We will broadcast nationwide radio commercials and create fliers.
	2.	Each affiliated organization will publicize the principles of equal treatment as much as possible. They will also proceed with activities that provide a good grasp of the real conditions and make checks on workplaces.
	3.	During this period, every local RENGO will set up a "Part-time Labor Hotline."RENGO will set aside approximately one week for a" nationwide" [activities] period. * They will conduct Hotline consultations mainly for part-time workers (and link up with municipalities).
	4.	Each affiliated organization, local RENGO, and unit union will hold various meetings in accordance with each of their actual situations. * They will hold experience exchange sessions at affiliated organizations and local RENGO. * They will hold dialogues at various workplaces, etc.

(2) RENGO will conduct a survey on the real conditions of part-time labor at every union between August and September in support of Part-time Labor Month.

3. Building Promotion Framework and Activities
(1) For the above activities to move ahead, we will build a project composed of officers from the Department of Working Conditions, the Department of Economic and Social Policy, the Department of Organizational Affairs, and the Department of Gender Equality at RENGO headquarters. We will hold joint committee meetings as necessary.
(2) Further, we will set up task forces within each local RENGO where possible.
(3) Future issues to be studied include a comprehensive examination of the following problems after November the campaign is over as a RENGO headquarters' project.

	1.	Improve labor conditions (raise wages, achieve in-firm minimum wage contract for all the workers.)
	2.	Establish working rules (substantiate principles of equal treatment, abolish discrimination by work type.)
	3.	Expand organizations (join affiliated organizations / enterprise-based unions and expand regional unions.)
	4.	Study policy and system issues (revise the social insurance system/revise dependent allowances).
	5.	Get a solid grasp of actual conditions.

4. Hold Related Committee Meetings
After getting a good grasp of the actual conditions and issues through the various activities listed above, we will hold meetings of related committees such as the organizational affairs committee, the employment and wages committee, and the gender equality committee, in order to study principles of concrete activities.

* We will hold a sub-committee discussion on part-time labor at the Central Debate Rally on the Spring Struggle scheduled for early November for the sake of deepening arguments on: (1)urgent part-time labor measures and (2)part-time labor policies at the next Spring Struggle.

Current Domestic
Actions