Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Japan (Ratification: 1986)

The Committee notes the observations of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC–RENGO) and the Japan Business Federation (NIPPON KEIDANREN), communicated with the Government’s report. It also notes the Government’s reply to the 2014 observations of the Japan Postal Industry Workers’ Union (YUSANRO), as well as the most recent observations presented by YUSANRO, received on 24 May 2016.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment trends and active labour market measures. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the employment measures adopted to promote full employment within a coordinated economic and social policy. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report concerning the adoption of the Basic Guidelines for Employment Policies in 2014, which set out the direction to be followed by employment policies during the five year period following its adoption. The Guidelines provide for the strengthening of the labour market infrastructure and the creation of high-quality employment to promote growth in the context of structural changes in employment, including a reduction in the active population, as well as the impact of globalization. In addition, the Long-term Vision for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing the Local Economy in Japan was adopted in 2014 to address issues such as the declining population and shrinking local economies. The Committee also notes that, according to the Labour Situation in Japan and its Analysis: General Overview 2015–16 of the Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training, the 2015 Japan Revitalization Strategy signaled the start of the second phase of the integrated economic policy “Abenomics”, which includes measures to overcome labour supply constraints as a result of the reduction in the active population due to a decreasing birth rate and the aging of the population. In terms of labour policy, the strategy aims to optimize the potential of individual employees by curbing overlong working hours to improve the quality of work performed; promoting increased participation by women, older workers, and other underrepresented groups; and reforming education and employment practices. Moreover, the Government refers to the adoption of several employment measures in disaster-affected prefectures, including the launch in 2016 of the employment support project in response to nuclear accidents, which seeks to ensure temporary employment for those affected by nuclear accidents in the Fukushima Prefecture. The implementation period and funding for the emergency employment support project in response to the East Japan Great Earthquake and the Business Recovery Employment Creation Project were extended in 2015 and 2016, respectively. In relation to employment trends, the Committee understands that, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation (OECD) Employment Outlook 2017 on Japan, the country performs particularly well in terms of quantity of employment, achieving the lowest unemployment rate among OECD countries and a relatively high employment rate. The low risk of unemployment is also reflected in a low level of labour market insecurity. In particular, the Government indicates that, as of 2016, the unemployment rate was 3 per cent, is the lowest rate for the past 18 years. In its observations, however, the YUNSARO emphasizes that disparity and poverty is increasing in Japan. In this regard, the OECD report states that Japan shows some weaknesses in job quality and labour market inclusiveness. A relatively high share of working-age persons experience job stress and work exclusively long hours. With respect to inclusiveness, both the high low-income rate and a big gender labour income gap indicate that some workers face barriers to accessing decent jobs. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the impact of the employment measures adopted, including the measures implemented under the Japan Revitalization Strategy, the Long-term Vision for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing the Local Economy in Japan and the Basic Guidelines for Employment Policies. It also requests the Government to provide updated information, including statistics on employment trends, disaggregated by age and sex, and on the procedures for deciding on and reviewing employment measures implemented within the framework of an overall economic and social policy.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that the tripartite Labour Policy Council has deliberated on important matters concerning the enactment, amendment and enforcement of employment legislation, and its opinions were taken into account in the planning and designing of employment policies. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the activities of the Labour Policy Council with respect to the development, implementation and review of employment policy measures and programmes and their links to other economic and social policies. It also requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which representatives of those affected by the measures concerned are consulted.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.