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14 Dec 2014

Japan: Huge disparity in treatment between regular and irregular employees

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The proportion of persons employed in Japan on irregular contracts has increased dramatically in recent years, and now comprises over a third of the entire work force. The majority of the irregular work force is comprised of women. Though irregular workers often perform core functions previously reserved for regular employees and often similarly work long hours, there is a huge gap in terms of pay and benefits. In one company, for example, a 46 year old woman leads the team preparing advertisement pamphlets, yet has been an irregular employee for over 10 years. Irregular staff at this company make an average of over 6 million yen (approximately USD 60,000) per year, whereas irregular staff make less than 3 million (approximately USD 30,000). Irregular staff also do not receive transportation costs, whereas regular employees do.

Japan is not state party to ILO Convention 100, which obligates states to ensure the equal pay for equal work. Legislative reform in 2008 requires companies to provide equal benefits for irregular employees who fulfill certain criteria; nevertheless, the criteria are so strict that the provisions almost never apply.

[Summary of main points of Japanese language article, by Business and Human Rights Resource Centre]