(Selected information on social & labour developments in Japan)
July
2001
Unemployment unchanged
The unemployment rate in June stood unchanged from the previous month at 4.9%, the highest in the record, according to the government statistics released on 31 July. The rates for men and women were 5.1% and 4.6% respectively. The job opening ratio, seasonally adjusted, was also unchanged at 0.61, unchanged from May.
Merger of unions in the services and distribution sector
A new sectoral trade union confederation of services and distribution was created on 4 July, as a result of the integration of the followings: Japan Federation of Commercial Workers Unions (JUC), Chain Store Labor Unions' Council (CLUC) and seven Department Store Unions' Councils. This will unite about 180,000 workers in the services and distribution sector. The newly established organization, Japan Federation of Service and Distributive Workers Unions (JSD), will be led by Mr. Mitsuo Nagumo, former President of JUC.
White Paper on Labour Economy focuses on IT
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare launched on 6 July its "White Paper on Labour Economy 2001". Apart from describing general trends in the labour economy, it is compiled under the major theme of "Innovation of Information Technology (IT) and Employment." The White Paper examines the arguments on IT's effect to employment, and projects that over 2 million new jobs were created by IT in the 1990s. In conclusion, it emphasizes the importance of training, and labour mobility both in and out of an enterprise, in order to fully benefit from the positive employment effects of IT.
Panel on Employability
A consultative panel to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on judgement criteria of employability issued its report on 12 July. Based on this report, it is expected that the Ministry will establish a practical method of evaluation based on job experience, as well as a comprehensive system for evaluating vocational capability. The report defines employability as "employment ability which is valued in the labour market, and can be used both within and outside companies."
Upper House election
At the Upper House election held on 29 July, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has won a 65, majority of the 121 contested seats in the House of Councillors. New Upper House members include less women, which decreased from 20 to 18. It is highly expected that the incumbent Prime Minister Koizumi will be re-elected as president of LDP on 10 August, if no contenders appear. During the election campaign, the Prime Minister has announced a "three-stage reform schedule," which will begin in August when the ministries file budget requests for fiscal 2002; this fall, at the time of the extraordinary Diet session; and in December, when the state budget is compiled.
| ILO EVENTS IN JAPAN |
ILO and Crisis Response and ReconstructionOn her visit to Japan to attend the eighth Conflict Prevention and Post-Conflict Reconstruction Network Meeting (Kyoto, 27-29 June 2001), Ms. Eugenia Date-Bah, Director, InFocus Programme on Crisis Response and Reconstruction, spoke about general activities and latest developments on the ILO InFocus programme to selected Japanese professionals at a lecture meeting organized by ILO Tokyo Branch Office on 2 July 2001 in Tokyo. The ILO InFocus Programme on Crisis Response and Reconstruction aims to address the employment related social and economic challenges of different types of crisis, including armed conflicts, natural disasters, abrupt financial and economic downturns and social or political transitions. It seeks to promote socio-economic reintegration of crisis-affected groups and to strengthen ILO's capacity to respond in a timely, comprehensive and effective manner to different types of crisis situations.
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June
2001
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2001
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2001
(Purpose of the news flash is to provide readers with rough idea of social and labour developments in Japan. It is not an official document of the ILO. The designations employed do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the ILO concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the ILO, and any failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval.)