Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Japan (Ratification: 2002)

The Committee notes the observations of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC–RENGO) communicated with the Government’s report. It also notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous request concerning Article 3 of the Convention on representation of the social partners in tripartite bodies.

Article 5 of the Convention. Effective tripartite consultations. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government, including the minutes of the meetings of the national tripartite body established in accordance with the Convention, and the ILO Panel, held on 20 August 2014 and 9 April 2015. In its observations, the JTUC–RENGO refers to the General Survey concerning the tripartite consultation instruments, 2000, paragraph 29, in which the Committee indicated that for the consultations to be meaningful, they should not be merely a token gesture, but should be given serious consideration by the competent authority. The JTUC–RENGO indicates that it has repeatedly expressed concern in this regard at the ILO Panel. The JTUC–RENGO has requested that a government representative responsible for the relevant matter attend the Panel to ensure serious consideration by the Government, specifically to ensure that the Government replies appropriately to questions from the representatives of workers and employers, and that the Panel and its minutes be open to the public. The Government indicates that at a meeting held in August 2014 it expressed its opinion that making the ILO Panel open to the public may disturb free discussion and that merely increasing the number of meetings held may not allow sufficient time to prepare for discussion. Representatives of employers’ organizations agreed with this point. The Government further indicates that tripartite consultations will continue to be facilitated in the future and there will be discussions on improving the operation of the procedures taking into consideration the opinions of employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the content and outcome of the tripartite consultations concerning international labour standards, including the steps taken to improve the operation of procedures as well as consultations held at appropriate intervals to re examine unratified Conventions, specifically those that have been identified by the social partners.