This bulletin contains information on law changes that have either passed, or are being discussed, in parliament, court decisions, and other labor issues in Japan that are of interest to activists.
In this bulletin:
- Expert panel preliminary report calls for abolishing Technical Internship, urges new system focused on securing personnel
- COVID-19 to be treated the same as influenza: shifted to “Category 5” on the 8th, 3 years after first confirmed case in the country
- At May Day “Eve”, women complain of unpaid work time 5.5x that of men
- Kumamoto city BoE leaves overtime unpaid for three years — 8.44 million unpaid to 40 contract employees, unable to give paid leave in exchange
- Patagonia’s Japanese subsidiary gives union rep. notice of firing right before switch to permanent employment
- Truck driver “dies from overwork”–family sues transport company
- Lawson to allow same-sex partners in company housing; introduces new LGBTQ policies
- “Real refugees will be deported, and may lose their lives”: immigration law reform bill, supposedly rejected, under debate in Diet again amid strong opposition
- WHO declares end of COVID-19 emergency: Director-General Tedros makes announcement
- Real wages down 2.9% in March; decreases continue due to high prices of goods
- Shunto pay raise averages 3.67%: RENGO 5th tally–high responses continue
And more!