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 19^th, 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、8月19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）

Abe’s ‘work style reform’ is deceiving

 The very first conference for work style reform was held on Sept. 27. Prime Minister Abe has proposed equal pay for equal work, eradicating disparity between regular and non-regular workers, amending long-work hours. More than 200 people gathered in the evening of the same day to raise their voices against these policies at an event organized by joint action for job protection. “What the government is saying, we have been saying,” Lawyer NATSUME Ichiro said. “The officials just stole our words. We are the ones who can realize a true reform.” The event featured TOKAIRIN Satochi, a Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reporter (See photo), who shared his views of true and false of Abe’s work style reform. He revealed the true nature of Abe with colorful anecdotes from his time at Labor Ministry. (By M)

安倍の「働き方改革」は上っ面だけ！～ 東海林智さん「雇用アクション」で講演

9月27日、官邸では第1回「働き方改革実現会議」が 開催された。安倍首相は「同一労働同一賃金の実現、正規と非正 規の格差の解消、長時間労働の是正」などを打ち出している。一 方、同じ日の夜、これに対抗するべく「安倍“働き方改革”にだまさ れるな！」と題する集会が、東京・文京区民センターで開かれて いた。主催は「雇用共同アクション」で予定の150人を大幅に超え る220人が集まり、終始、熱気に包まれていた。冒頭の挨拶で棗 （なつめ）一郎弁護士は「政府が言っていることは我々がこれま で言ってきたこと。かれらはそれをパクっただけ。真の改革がで きるのはわれわれだ」と訴えた。集会のメインは、毎日新聞労働 記者の東海林智さん（写真）の講演で、タイトルは「安倍働き方 改革のウソとマコト」だった。厚労省官僚に食い込んできた記者 ならではの生々しい話で、安倍のウソの皮を一枚一枚剥いでいっ た。（M）

“Free to dismiss and use without overtime pay” - Labor organization rally against Abe administration

On May 11, 2016, a rally named “Improve our employment and life – Down with Abe! The next arrows will be ‘Freedom to dismiss’ and ‘Freedom to use without overtime pay’” was held at the Hibiya Open-air Music Hall in central Tokyo. 1,800 workers, citizens and lawyers joined the bipartisan rally organized by the Labour Lawyers Association of Japan, with cooperation of various labor organizations, such as Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation), Zenroren (National Confederation of Trade Unions) and Zenrokyo (National Trade Union Council). At the beginning of the rally, NATSUME Ichiro, the president of the association, said, “Prime Minister Abe is only saying something cozy, but we stay alert”. Then, NAKANE Yasuhiro, a Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives, KOIKE Akira, a Communist member of the House of Councilors, and YOSHIDA Tadatomo, a Social Democratic member of the House of Councilors delivered speeches, followed by many Communist MPs. These three joined their hands, strongly reassuring the opposition alliance to stop the deterioration of labor laws and the runaway of the Abe administration. (WATANABE Manabu)

Video(10 minutes)

「解雇自由・定額働かせ放題」アベ政権はもう嫌だ！～労働団体の違いこえて1800人

５月１１日、「雇用と暮らしの底上げアクション アベ政権はもう嫌だ！～次に来る矢は“解雇自由”と“定額働かせ放題”」が東京・日比谷野音で開催されました。日本労働弁護団らのよびかけで、連合、全労連、全労協、中立系など労働団体の違いを越えて１８００名の労働者、市民、弁護士が集まりました。集会の冒頭、労働弁護団の棗一郎会長が「安倍首相が選挙を前にいいことばかり言っているが油断してはならない」と情勢報告をしました。国会議員のあいさつとして、民進党・中根康浩衆院議員、共産党・小池晃参院議員、社民党・吉田忠智参院議員が発言をしました。他にも共産党からたくさんの国会議員が駆けつけて登壇しました。あいさつをした３名の方たちはお互いに手をつなぎ合って、野党共闘で労働法制の改悪と安倍政権の暴走を止めていくことを力強くアピールし、会場から声援を送られました。（渡辺学）