Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO)

Great East Japan Earthquake: The Government Decides Fundamental Policy for Restoring from the Disaster

1. July 29, the government held a meeting of the Countermeasures Headquarters for Restoring from the Great East Japan Earthquake (with Prime Minister Naoto Kan as its director general) and decided “the fundamental policy for restoring from the disaster caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake”. The policy had been formulated so as to give a concrete form to the measures related to the restoration on the basis of the “proposal for restoration” presented to the government on June 25 by the Conference for Planning Restoration from the Disaster Caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Conference itself had been established according to the Fundamental Law on Restoration from the Great East Japan Earthquake which passed the Diet on June 20. Many of the opinions or ideas which had been proposed by RENGO on various occasions are incorporated in the countermeasures including the implementation of the employment measures which should be promoted together with industrial policy, such as definite creation of employment and the security of appropriate working conditions, compact city or town planning paying attention to the access to social security services, reconstruction of communities and the security of financial resources. RENGO would like to appreciate its policy.
   
   
2. First of all, the fundamental policy confirms, in its basic idea, the extent and influence of the disaster, clarifies the basis in formulating the policy and make clear the outline of the spheres and ways to deal with. Then, after showing restoration period, basic plans, the scale of reconstruction works and financial resources, it touches upon concrete contents of restoration measures and their respective course.
   
   From now on, it is expected to give shape to the measures and implement them centering on the disaster-stricken areas, but, in so doing, while there are many local governments which have lost their function, it is demanded to the country, prefectures, cities, towns and villages to grasp the will and intention of local people so as to put them together to be reflected upon the reconstruction measures. How this will be done is considered to be an important key to giving shape to the measures.
   
   
3. On the other, the scale of recovery and restoration works which will be made by both national and local governments is estimated to amount to about 23 trillion yen in ten years, and in five years at the outset it will amount to 19 trillion yen, but as far as financial resources for them are concerned, any concrete contents on the measures for restoration bonds or limited-time taxes are not made clear. It is requested to the government and the ruling parties in cooperation to work out a definite plan in a concerted manner and to make further efforts for not slowing down the restoration works.
   
   
4. Overcoming the unprecedented crisis for the nation caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, we have to realize the restoration and revival of the disaster-stricken areas and, at the same time, we have to link this restoration to the revival of our country as a whole. With the fundamental policy having been confirmed, it is strongly expected that the formulation of further higher pitch restoration and revival measures and their implementation will be accelerated. In the spirit of solidarity and mutual support, RENGO will carry out the social mission as the trade union movement for “restoration and revival from the earthquake disaster” and continue to make all its efforts for realizing “a Secure Society Built around Work as Its Core Theme” toward building a society filled with hope and security.