JCP Tokyo Assembly members give jobs counseling on the street

Japan Press Weekly

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

JCP Tokyo Assembly members give jobs counseling on the street

Japanese Communist Party local assembly members in Tokyo, including 10 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly members, on January 27 took to the streets to listen to laid-off workers and work with them to deal with their problems.

They set up a makeshift reception desk on a busy street near Ikebukuro railway station and handed out leaflets to passersby, saying, "Please feel free to come and participate."

More than 20 workers, including temporary workers whose contracts had been suddenly terminated, came to the desk for advice.

A 47-year-old man said he had lost his place to live after being laid off as a temporary worker a week earlier. JCP member of Tokyo Assembly Matsumura Tomoaki took him to the local city office of Nerima Ward to apply for welfare assistance and an emergency loan. His request was accepted.

A 39-year-old man, who got a job after being arbitrarily terminated by a staffing agency in mid-October last year, dropped in to ask questions about what should be done in response to layoffs. He said that although he recently has been promoted to a full-time position at a restaurant, he is worried about his health because his place of work changes every day. Receiving pamphlets about labor laws and trade unions, he said, "I have realized that I am not the only person to have troubles. I didn't know that anyone can join the union. I've got lots of useful information."

A 57-year-old man, who was in a state of homelessness for three months after losing his job, asked for advice as to how to get out of the current situation. JCP member of Toshima Ward Assembly Watanabe Kumiko accompanied him to the city office of Toshima Ward to apply for welfare assistance.

JCP Tokyo Assembly members will hold a similar labor counseling session near Sinjuku railway station on February 4.

- Akahata, January 28, 2009