May 9, 2026

Construction workers’ unions on May 8 petitioned the Economy and Industry Ministry, the Finance Ministry, and the Labor and Welfare Ministry to take measures to reduce the adverse impacts of soaring energy and building material prices triggered by the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.

This action was joined by Japanese Communist Party members of the House of Representatives Hatano Kimie, Shiokawa Tetsuya, and Tatsumi Kotaro along with JCP members of the House of Councillors Iwabuchi Tomo, Shirakawa Yoko, and Yamazoe Taku. In addition to the JCP lawmakers, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Shiomura Ayaka also took part in the action.

Measures called for by the unions include support for small and medium-sized enterprises in construction, the lowering of the consumption tax rate to 5%, the abolition of the consumption tax invoice system, the cancellation of the introduction of a “special defense income tax”, the expansion of the employment adjustment subsidy, and a reduction or exemption in the payment of social insurance premiums.

In the petitioning to the Economy and Industry Ministry, Nakamura Takayuki, the chair of the Tokyo Construction Workers’ Union (Tokyo Doken), said, “Due to the sea blockade imposed by the United States, we are struggling to procure naphtha-derived materials. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae claims that Japan has secured enough naphtha supplies. However, we are already experiencing a supply shortage.”

A member of the Saitama Construction Workers’ Union (Saitama Doken) said, “Carpenters go around to home improvement stores and scramble for necessary materials. Large firms receive a guaranteed supply of materials, but this doesn’t cover local artisans.”

A ministry official mentioned the ministry’s programs offering loans to SMEs. In response, a union member said, “Considering the onus of repayment of the Corona-related SME loans, I can’t take out new loans,” and demanded that the government implement measures to provide subsidies and a permanent support.