Zenroren unions provide nationwide telephone counseling services for temporary workers

Japan Press Weekly

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Zenroren unions provide nationwide telephone counseling services for temporary workers

The National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) and its member federations provided telephone counseling services throughout the country on February 20-21 to help temporary and other contingent workers solve problems such as illegal dismissals and use of temporary workers in the guise of independent contractors.

In Tokyo, union staff from Zenroren and the Tokyo Regional Council of Trade Unions (Tokyochihyo) received calls from temporary workers and advised them to make use of labor law enforcement authorities and join unions.

A female temporary worker at an import car dealer said that she suffered insomnia due to "power harassment" and was forced to agree with the termination of her contract before it was to expire.

Pointing out that it is illegal to terminate a contract before its expiration date, a phone counselor told her to document the details and to file the complaint with the Labor Bureau.

The Osaka Federation of Trade Unions (Osaka Roren) opened an emergency call center in Osaka.

A male employee on a one-year contract with a staffing agency asked what he should do about his "dismissal and termination of his contract". He said, "Although my contract expires on June 1, the agency told me to leave at the end of March. The agency promised to keep paying me until June 1, but the amount is still undecided. I'm anxious about it."

The counselor advised him to join a union, so that he can force the company to fulfill its obligation to pay in full without delaying his wages in order for him to secure his minimum standard of living.

In Sapporo, the Hokkaido Federation of Trade Unions (Dororen) in cooperation with lawyers and democratic organizations opened a counseling center in the downtown area.

A man who lost his job and place to live came to the counseling center to seek advice. After the counseling, he was accompanied to the city office by a counselor to apply for welfare assistance. He got an emergency loan to rent an apartment. Thanking the counselor for the help, he took part in distributing flyers calling for justice in employment.

- Akahata, February 21, 2009