  Temporary workers require equitable treatment -- Akahata editorial, October 24An increasing number of workers are working in unstable employment. They are temporary workers, part-time workers, or workers under contract. The government says that jobs are increasing, but the increase is limited to low-paying contingent jobs. More than 3 million people are still unemployed, with no signs of improvement. Over 30 percent of workers are contingent workers In the last four years, the number of non-regular workers increased by 2.83 million, while the number of regular workers declined by 2.5 million. Non-regular workers now account for 31 percent of the total workforce excluding people in managerial positions. At electronics and other production lines, 70 to 80 percent of a plant's total workforce is made up of temporary or contract workers. They are forced to work under difficult conditions. In most cases, temporary, contract, and part-time workers make one to two million yen annual income, which is almost half or one-third of that of regular workers. Their rights are further encroached upon. In most cases, employers do not cover the cost of unemployment insurance, health insurance, or commuting expenses. Some non-regular workers are fired just before they become entitled to use annual paid holidays. Short term contracts for three or six months and unilateral discontinuation of contracts at the employer's discretion are common, making employment even more insecure. Why are non-regular workers on a sharp increase? Behind this lies the self-centered corporate strategy of cutting personnel costs to maximize profits by replacing regular workers with low-paying and disposable non-regular staff. The adverse revision of the labor laws to encourage this strategy is to blame for this situation. The government has extended the upper limit for fixed-term employment, easing regulations for the manufacturing sector from March. This has resulted in a sharp increase in the number of contingent workers on production lines. No discrimination against contingent workers in wages and other working conditions must be condoned. They must be guaranteed as a basic human right. The Constitution provides that all people are equal. The Labor Standards Law establishes the basic idea of equal pay for equal labor. The European Union (EU) has issued a directive that part timers and temporary workers must be treated equally as full-time workers. Discussions are now underway in Europe to issue a draft directive that would require employers to give equal treatment to temporary workers and full-time employees. Equal treatment of part timers and leased workers has been widely regarded as necessary. The average wage for part timers is only 49.7percent of full-time workers in Japan, while it is 82.5 percent in Germany and 73.0 percent in France. The disparity is extraordinary in Japan. Last year, the JCP submitted to the parliament a bill requiring employers not to discriminate against part-timers and temporary workers concerning working conditions, including wages, holidays, training, welfare benefits, dismissals, and retirement. Companies using leased workers should make efforts to offer them opportunities to work as full time employees while ensuring that they can work under equitable conditions. It is necessary to rigorously oversee the use of labor under contracts to prevent illegal acts and eliminate discrimination. It could leave a problem for the future The use of more "disposable" workers to increase immediate profits will in the long term leave a problem for the future of Japan's society, industries, and corporations. If companies continue to depend on temporary workers they will not be able to train workers or pass on skills to young workers. In fact, many companies concerned are producing defective products, lowering productivity, and increasing workplace accidents. Toyota Motor Co. says that the number of seasonal workers and other contingent workers almost reached 40% of its total employees and adverse effects began to appear in terms of productivity as well as quality of products (Toyota's survey submitted to a subcommittee of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare). The need now is for corporations to stop using more non-regular employees and ensure that all workers can enjoy humane working conditions. Rules need to be established to support equitable treatment of part timers, temporary, and leased workers. (end) |