Labour Update Bulletin #171

Aug 12, 2023

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.

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In this bulletin:

  • “Report of the Workshop on Balancing Work and Child/Family Care for the Future” June 18, 2023–MHWL Labor Policy Council Employment Environment and Equality Subcommittee
  • Average minimum wage decided at 1,002: first time past the 1000 mark, record increase of 41 yen – MHWL council
  • Freelancers to gain protection: health and safety laws to apply
  • “Outing” by boss is harassment, an unprecedented decision: partner listed as emergency contact exposed
  • Overtime pay demanded for part-time teachers: Mie Teachers’ Union
  • Sogo-Seibu union votes for right to strike amid buyout plan: demand for continued employment
  • “Overtime work gave me depression”: former Environment Ministry staffer sues national government
  • Japan Post unequal-treatment suits settled in seven district courts; settlement money totals 74 million
  • At Hokkaido U., 34 researchers (60%) lose jobs–non-regular researchers, before switching to permanent employment
  • Two former teachers at Kobe Jogakuin Junior-Senior High sue for back-payment of overtime, 14 million over 3 years: “set-price all-you-can-work at private schools too”
  • Technical internships: violations at 7,000 workplaces–MHWL 2022 investigation
  • CPI up 3.3% in June: growth rate increases for first time in two months
  • 3.05 million workers have a second job: large increase among part-timers, growing numbers of full-time workers want second jobs too
  • 2023 world growth raised to 3.0%; Chinese economy risks slump–IMF prediction
  • Population declines in all prefectures for first time; population falls a record 800,000 as of January this year
  • Welfare applications up 11.4% in May: 5th month in a row of year-on-year increases

And more!!

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