Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Japan (Ratification: 1986)

The Committee has noted with interest the Government's first report for the period ending 30 June 1988. It has noted the Government's reference to general provisions of relevant laws stipulating basic principles in respect of vocational guidance and vocational training in line with the provisions of the Convention. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would include in its future reports further information on measures taken for practical implementation of such principles, with particular reference to measures taken under the Basic Plans on employment measures and on vocational ability development. Please also refer to the following points:

Regarding the equality in vocational training provided by the employer, the Committee notes the Government's reference to section 9 of the so-called "Equal Employment Opportunity Law" (No. 113 of 1972). It further notes that the prohibition of discrimination based on sex in vocational training under this provision, read together with section 1 of the Enforcement Ordinance (No. 2 of 1986, of the Ministry of Labour) of the said Law, is limited in scope to the vocational training for the acquisition of basic skills necessary for workers to perform their duties and which is provided outside of the worker's performance of duties. Please supply in the next report further information on policies and programmes aiming to encourage and enable all persons, without discrimination based on sex, to develop and use their capabilities for work, with particular reference to the measures in respect of the vocational training which is not covered by the above-mentioned provisions (Article 1, paragraph 5, of the Convention).

The Committee notes that the Vocational Ability Development Promotion Law (No. 64 of 1969) calls for efforts by employers as regards vocational training of their employees (section 4, paragraph 1) and stipulates complementary measures to be taken by the State and Prefectures (section 4, paragraph 2, and sections 14 to 14-3). Please include in future reports information on measures of assistance to employers in this regard, such as various forms of grants, subsidies and loans (Article 2).

The Committee notes the Government's description of the role of the Public Employment Security Offices in the system of vocational guidance and employment information, and of their co-operation with schools in guidance and information for students and fresh school-leavers. Please include in future reports information on the Government's policies regarding provisions of employment information by private enterprises, for example, in the form of job-information magazines (Article 3, paragraph 1). Please also supply specimens of the documentation made available, such as the "Occupational Outlook Handbook" referred to in the Government's report, especially when it is updated (Article 3, paragraph 2). In the next report, please indicate measures taken to give effect to Article 3, paragraph 3, of the Convention (information on general aspects of collective agreements, and on rights established by labour laws).

The Committee also notes from the Government's report on the application of Convention No. 122 received in December 1988 that various employment measures, taken in response to the structural changes of the economy and for specified industries or areas, include measures in the field of vocational guidance and vocational training. It hopes that the Government's future reports will cover the measures of this kind, whether they are in the form of direct provisions of training or guidance by public institutions or of assistance to the employer (Articles 3 and 4). The Committee further notes that the report of the Central Education Council with regard to measures paving the way for life-long learning activities was submitted in January 1990 to the Ministry of Education. Please include in future reports information on the measures taken in response to this report concerning the workers' life-long learning activities (Article 4).