Labor Policy

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Labor Policy

• Keiichiro HAMAGUCHI

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Chapter 1General Introductionand Historical
Overview
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Industrial Revolutionand Pre-war Labor Policy

• Japans industrialization started at the last
  period of 19th century (100 years after the
  British Industrial Revolution)
• Japans Factory Law enacted in 1911, enforced in
  1916
• Trade Union Law proposed but failed
• Militarism promoted workers protection.

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(2) Post-war Reformin Labor Policy

• Post-war reform the starting point of current
  labor legislations.
• 1945 Trade Union Law established three basic
  labor rights.
• 1947 Labor Standards Law established 8 hours/day
  and 48 hours/week.
• 1947 Employment Security Law prohibited
  fee-charging private placement and labor supply
  business.

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(3) The Age of Modernization

• Modernization of Labor Market labor market
  based on skills and jobs
• 1958 Vocational Training Law combined in-house
  training and public training.
• 1966 Minimum Wage Law, minimum wages fixed by
  tripartite council
• 1972 Industrial Health and Safety Law provided
  HS management system.

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(4) The Age of Company-centrism

• 1973 Oil Crisis changed the policy direction.
• 1974 Employment Insurance Law urged employment
  maintenance, instead of dismissal.
• 1986 Older Persons Employment Law urged
  employment until 60 (tightened in 1994).
• 1987 Rev. of Labor Standards Law set workweek at
  40 hours (completed in 1997).
• 1985 Equal Employment Opportunity Law urged
  gender equality (tightened in 1997).

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(5) The Age of Market Principle

• Neo-liberalism came to Japan in 1990s.
• 2001 Rev. of Employment Measures Law promoted
  re-employment, instead of maintenance.
• 1998 2003 Rev. of Labor Standards Law
  deregulated working time and contract.
• 1999 2003 Rev. of Worker Dispatching Law
  deregulated temporary work business.

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(6) Development of Labor Administration

• -1922 Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce
• 1922-1938 Social Policy Bureau, Ministry of Home
  Affairs
• 1938-1947 Ministry of Health and Welfare
• 1947-2000 Ministry of Labor
• 2001- Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
• ILO Convention No.150 on Labor Administration
• ILO Conv. No.144 on Tripartite Consultations
• ILO Conv. No.81 on Labor Inspection

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(7) International Labor Organization

• ILO founded in 1919 by Treaty of Versailles
• Conventions and Recommendations set minimum
  standards of basic labor rights.