Overview

The Japanese economy continues to be in recession. According to a report published by the Cabinet Office in July 2000, business is declining again. In January 2001, the Office estimated that the Japanese economy would achieve a real GDP growth rate of about 1.7 percent in fiscal year 2001(April 2000 to end March 2001) which seems difficult to be attained at the moment. The labour market also suffers from a high level of unemployment. According to the report of the Office, the unemployment rate as of May 2001 was 4.9 percent, and there were 3.29 million unemployed people.

In order to counter the economic situation, the Government adopted "The Emergency Economic Package" in April 2001, following "A Policy Package for New Economic Development toward the Rebirth of Japan" in October 2000. The Package aims at (1) Revitalization of the Financial and Corporate sectors, (2) Structural Reform in the securities Market, (3) Urban Revitalization and Increasing Liquidity in Land Assets, (4) Creating Jobs and Enhancing the safety Net for the Employed Workers, and (5) Tax System.

The Government restructured its administration into one office, ten ministries and two agencies in January 2001 from the previous 22 ministries and agencies. The restructuring aims at creating an administration, which is more efficient and transparent. Under the new administration, the Ministry of Labour merged with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to form the "Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour."

Japan is a founding member of the ILO, and the Government has been a member of Chief Industrial Importance since 1919. Both the employers’ and the workers’ representatives are titular members of the Governing Body.

In April 2001 the then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori resigned before his term expired. Mr Junichiro Koizumi, also from the Liberal Democratic Party, succeeded as the Prime Minister, and he organized a new Cabinet on 26 April 2001. He dubbed his Cabinet a ‘national salvation" government which includes five female ministers and three nonpoliticians. He increased LDP’s seats in the election of the House of Councilors in August 2001.

The present Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare is Mr.Chikara Sakaguchi, appointed from Komeito Party, was a medical doctor striving to improve medical care for the poor. He has previously served as Labour Minister in Morihiro Hosokawa’s cabinet. Mr.Hideyo Nakano is the Government member on the Governing Body.

The Japanese Federation of Employers’ Association (Nikkeiren) represents Japanese employers at the national level on labour, employment, industrial relations, social welfare and other ILO-related issues. The President of Nikkeiren is one of the most prominent business and industrial leaders in Japan. The President is currently Mr. Hiroshi Okuda, the Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation. Mr. Okuda assumed this position in May 1999, after serving as the Vice-President of Nikkeiren. Nikkeiren strengthened its international cooperation activities by establishing an International Cooperation Center (ICC) in May 1989, and in March 1994 launched the "Nikkeiren International Cooperation Center (NICC)" by incorporating the ICC as a foundation. Mr. Toshio A. Suzuki, the Senior Managing Director of NICC and the Policy Board member of Nikkeiren, is the employer member on the Governing Body.

The Japan Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO) was inaugurated in 1989 unifying the previous four national centers. Most of the major workers’ organizations from both the private sector and the public sector have been affiliated with RENGO. The President of RENGO is Mr. Etsuya Washio, who was first elected at the Fifth National Convention (biennial) of RENGO held in October 1997. He was re-elected in October 1999. JTUC-RENGO also established the Japan International Labour Foundation (JILAF) in May 1989 to promote exchange activities for cooperation with the trade unions abroad. Mr. Sukesada Ito, Counselor of RENGO and Special Adviser of Zosen Jyuki (Shipbuilding and Engineering Workers’ Unions) is the worker member on the Governing Body.

Both the Nikkeiren and the RENGO are involved in the policy-making processes of government by participating in statutory advisory councils or other advisory/research groups. One of the most typical and popular occasions is the Industry and Labour Round Table.

The trade unions are suffering a decline in the rate of unionization, witnessed by a drop to 21.5 percent from 22.2 percent in 2000, according to the basic survey on trade unions conducted in 2000.

The Japanese Government has extended support to ILO technical cooperation programmes since 1974, for which ILO/Japan Multi-bilateral Programme acts as liaison to enhance communication among concerned parties. In fiscal year 2001 (April 2001 - March 2002), the Japanese Government's voluntary contribution will amount to US$2,553,932 for eight projects and an additional US$180,000 for APSDEP (Regional skills development programme). The eight projects and the amount of contribution are listed below:

1. Strategic Approach Toward Employment Promotion US$805,863
2. Expansion of Employment Opportunities for Women US$562,701
3. Long-term Fellowship on Labour and Employment US$322,855
   Policy Adiministration
4. Asian Regional Symposium on Youth Employment Policy US$202,444
5. Asian-Pacific Symposium on Standards-Related Topics US$198,684
6. Projects in response to Asian Crisis US$177,385
7. Asian Regional Meeting on Child Labour US$157,940
8. Seminar on Occupational Safety and Health Management System US$126,060

The Japan Institute of Labour (JIL) has contributed to the project Networking of National Institutes for Labour Studies since 1994. In fiscal year 2000, they expanded their contribution to US$86,095 (from US$53,810 in fiscal year 1999). With financial and technical cooperation from the Japan Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO), ILO/RENGO Sub-regional Orientation for French-speaking African Countries on the Advantages for Workers of Productivity Improvement was held in Dakar in February 1999 and in Abidjan in April 2000. RENGO also made a donation of US$47,620 to IPEC in 1998 and 1999 respectively. The Japan Federation of Employers’ Association (NIKKEIREN) makes a contribution to hold an employers’ conference in the Asia and the Pacific region every two years.

No. 138: This was ratified in June 2000.

No. 182: This was ratified in June 2001.

Nos. 105 and 111: Domestic law and practice make it difficult for the Government to ratify these Conventions, although the Government will continue with its efforts. The ratification is not foreseen in the near future.

Others

No. 181: This was ratified in July 1999.

There are no contentious issues. The following may be of some interest:

The Government has been concerned for a long time over the under-representation by Japanese staff working in the ILO, compared to the appropriate number in proportion to its contribution. A recruitment mission was sent to Japan in April 2000 based on the promise between the top leaders of the ILO and the Government of Japan, to recruit Young Professionals