On February 26, RENGO and RENGO's Public Sector Liaison Council jointly filed a complaint to the Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) of the Governing Body of the International Labour Office (ILO). They are asking that the Japanese government revise the civil servant system to fairly implement ILO C87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948) and C98 (Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949). They are also asking the CFA to disclose the results at a Committee scheduled in November later this year. In a statement released the same day, RENGO resolutely announced that it would increase activities in connection with this filing in order to restore civil servants' basic labor rights. This is the first time that RENGO has ever filed a compliant with the ILO.

Many labor unions have promised their solid support of this filing. International labor union organizations including the ICFTU (International Confederation of Free Trade Unions), PSI (Public Services International), EI (Education International), UNI (Union Network International), the ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) and others have served as joint plaintiffs by adding their names to the list.
Repeated reports and advisories from the Committee on Freedom of Association of ILO and other organizations have made it clear that the current Japanese legislation on public services violates ILO conventions and does not adhere to international labor standards. The Japanese government, however, has continued to ignore these repeated criticisms and advisories for revision from the ILO and still maintains legislation that limits basic labor rights, and takes no remedial action.
Furthermore, the "Civil Servant System Reform Outline" which was decided on by the Cabinet on December 25th last year, 'keeps ongoing restrictions' on public servants. The outline to a large degree cuts down the role of the National Personnel Authority, which has been working systematically to compensate for the restrictions, and only strengthens the employer, that is, the government's power of personnel management. To top it all, this Cabinet decision was conducted unilaterally without going through sufficient negotiations and discussion with the labor unions concerned. This [1] procedure of decision making, and [2]its contents, will worsen Japan's situation infringing on the ILO principles commencing with the freedom of association.
It is unacceptable that the Japanese government, which is a G8 member, infringes any more on international labor standards when we consider the role that Japan plays in the international community. The Japanese government should recognize the filing of this complaint to the ILO as a serious matter and respond to the CFA's deliberation with due sincerity. We also strongly hope that the ILO will investigate swiftly and fairly and give an appropriate recommendation to the Japanese Government.

RENGO, together with its Public Sector Liaison Council, has repeatedly lodged complaints with the government for the recovery of basic labor rights for public servants, the establishment of a just and fair new personnel system based on labor-management discussions, abolition of the privileged 'Level I Career System' and 'Amakudari' system and so forth. (Amakudari is the practice of high-level government officials stepping into executive posts in private and semi-public firms in the private sector in fields closely linked to their government roles after retiring from the government posts.) However, the government has neglected this and is pushing amendments of the National Civil Service Law and Local Public Service Law in accordance with their 'Outline' which they are scheduled to submit in an amendment bill to the Diet in early 2003.
By submitting this file, RENGO and RENGO Public Sector Liaison Council will further fortify activities for seeking the retraction of the 'Outline' as well as civil servant system reform for an administration that puts people first.