Major trade union center and a traders organization jointly survey recession and restructuring

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and the National Federation of Traders and Producers Organizations (Zenshoren) are carrying out a joint nationwide survey of the actual condition of the economic recession and corporate restructuring from April 3 to April 9.

The survey, through hearings from employers, employees and small producers and traders, is intended to serve as the basis on which the two organizations build requests to be addressed to central and local governments as well as employers organizations.

In Aichi Prefecture hosting a major auto maker, a parts processor said that he had to accept the parent company's request for a 10 percent discount under the threat of loss of orders in the future, the day before the payment was due.

Workers of another parts maker said they are often told on Fridays to produce a trial model by Monday, with almost no work to do on weekdays.

Workers of a company related to Toyota Motor Corporation said those workers assigned to the development of new models have to do night and overtime work without pay. They say that the company has abandoned non-paying sectors as divestitures, causing the workers' morale to decline.

In Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, known for the production of motor cycles and musical instruments, chief director of the city's public jobs placement office said that the city's advantageous position in employment has been rapidly lost. He said that job offers declined by 25.6 percent, while job applications increased by 11.4 percent from the previous year.

During the survey, Hamamatsu City office stated that the city will carry out a field survey of major corporations' plans to transfer production bases abroad. (end)