Japanese Unionists Take To Streets

Date: 02 December 2002

On 29 November, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO) staged a demonstration in front of the Japanese Diet in Tokyo to call for democratic reform of the country's public service system.

Over 10 000 people turned out to demand greater transparency in public services, abolition of the 'career system' and full implementation of ILO recommendations.

As stated in a recent case before the ILO's Freedom of Association Committee, by maintaining restrictions on the fundamental labour rights of public employees such as collective bargaining, Japanese legislation is in violation of ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

While the government of Japan has attempted to sidestep the ILO conclusions by claiming that the UN labour body does not fully understand the "special circumstances of Japan," it is clear that the nomenclature-like bureaucracy in the country is a breeding ground for misconduct and scandal among the higher ranks of the Ministries, and that the public service system is out of date in terms of national and international standards.

Having also criticized in a recent report the "serious problems" currently afflicting much of the public sector, the ICFTU is offering its full solidarity with JTUC-RENGO, its Japanese affiliate.

Please click here to view the recent ICFTU report:
http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991216659&Language=EN

The ICFTU represents 157 million workers in 225 affiliated organisations in 148 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org

For further information

Contact:	ICFTU Press Department
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
Phone:	+32 2 224 0232
Contact Mobile:	+32 476 62 10 18

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