Japan Federation of Bar Associations holds a rally calling for Worker Dispatch Law to be revised

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Japan Federation of Bar Associations holds a rally calling for Worker Dispatch Law to be revised

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) on November 20 in the Diet Building held an assembly to demand a fundamental revision of the Worker Dispatch Law.

The JFBA at its Convention on Protection of Human Rights in October adopted a resolution calling for fundamental amendments to labor laws and labor policy in order to decrease the numbers of the working poor. It has also made clear its position on the Worker Dispatch Law in a statement by the JFBA chairman.

During the assembly, JFBA representatives spoke about its telephone counseling service on matters related to contingent work and the livelihood protection system, as well as on the survey on the actual state of workers in the U.S., European countries, and Korea.

Kyoto Bar Association member Nakamura Kazuo explained the JFBA statement and criticized the government bill as insufficient and went over the problems with the bill.

Temporary workers, including workers sent to foreign airlines or travel agencies as cabin attendants or tour operator talked about their harsh treatment.

A temporary worker, sent to Toyota Auto Body by the major staffing agency Nikken Sogyo Co., Ltd, said that he was notified on short notice of dismissal by Toyota Auto Body and cast out of a staffing agency apartment. He was temporarily admitted to an accommodation for homeless people.

A 46-year-old temporary worker at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Takasago Machinery Works in Kobe Prefecture said that in order to resolve illegal use of temporary workers as disguised contractors, MHI switched his position between temporary worker and contractor. He appealed to the participants that he wants MHI to offer him direct employment and said, “I just want to work without anxiety.”

Japanese Communist Party members of the House of the Councilors Nihi Sohei and Yamashita Yoshiki as well as Dietmembers of Komei, the Democratic, the Social Democratic, and the People’s New parties took part in the rally.

- Akahata, November 21, 2008