Friday, September 8, 2017

Towards a Society Where Everyone Can Live Off an 8-Hour Work Day ~ Abe’s Bill to Revise the Labor Standards Act Spark Protests In Front of the Diet



 
On the afternoon of August 19th, demonstrators gathered in front of the Diet Members’ Office Building in Tokyo to oppose Prime Minister ABE Shinzo’s labor reform initiatives—including the so-called “zero overtime pay” bill—which the Diet is set to deliberate on this fall. Organized by the Labour Lawyers Association of Japan, the demonstrations—which lasted for about an hour—saw many people and groups like Rengo, Zenroren and Zeryoko come together despite differences. Members of Union Mie invited local labor unions in Mie Prefecture to join the action, sending a bus of 25 union members to take part in the demonstrations in Tokyo. Placards bearing the words, “Towards a Society Where Everyone Can Live Off an 8-Hour Work Day,” stood out at the protests. “The government is trying to deliberate the bill to revise the Labor Standards Act along with bills pertaining to white-collar overtime exemption and equal pay for equal work among others, all at once,” said NATSUME Ichiro, one of the attorneys who organized the protests. “It’s ridiculous how the government is lumping bad laws with good ones. We need to reject these efforts and demand the government deliberate each bill one by one.” Attorney ICHIHASHI, a member of an attorney team dealing with clients who have been victimized by exploitative companies, criticized the move: “The characteristics of exploitative companies are long working hours and not paying for overtime work.  The bill to revise the Labor Standards Act will not only further these practices, but will justify them.”  (M)



8時間働けばフツーにくらせる社会を!~安倍「労働法制改悪阻止」国会前行動

「残業代ゼロ法案」など秋の国会で審議される安倍「働き方改革」に反対する国会前行動が、819日午後4時~5時に議員会館前で開催された。呼びかけは日本労働弁護団。連合・全労連・全労協など垣根をこえて多くの労組・市民が集まった。三重県のユニオンみえは近隣の組合も誘い、バスを仕立てて25名で参加した。「8時間働けばフツーにくらせる社会を」のプラカードが目を引いた(写真)。主催者の棗(なつめ)一郎弁護士は「政府は労基法改悪、裁量労働制、同一労働同一賃金などいくつもの法案を一括して審議しようとしている。悪い法律といい法律を混ぜるふざけたやり方。一括のやり方に反対し一つひとつ法案を分けて審議することを要求していこう」と訴えた。ブラック企業被害対策弁護団の市橋弁護士は「ブラック企業の特徴は長時間労働と残業代の不払い。今回の労基法改悪はこれらを助長するブラック企業正当化法案だ」と鋭く批判した。(M

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