Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

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

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report for the period ending May 1998. According to the Government the unemployment rate was 3.4 per cent in 1996, 3.7 per cent in 1997, and 4.1 per cent in 1998. The groups most affected by the increase in unemployment have been the young and the elderly. The OECD reports that GDP growth was 1.4 per cent in 1997 and -2.8 per cent in 1998, and forecasts growth of -0.9 per cent in 1999 and 0.0 per cent in 2000. The Government states in its report that it has enacted emergency measures for developing employment in particularly hard-hit regions, including subsidies for hiring older workers (over 45 years of age), subsidies to troubled industries, funding temporary employee leave programmes to allow more young people to access the labour market, making working time more flexible and decreasing the annual number of hours worked per employee.

2. In reply to the Committee's previous comments, the Government explains that it has introduced various programmes to promote the employment of women, including childcare leave, subsidies for childcare on worksites, and support for re-employment of workers who left the labour market to care for children or older adult relations. Please indicate the impact of these programmes on the employment of women, and any further measures taken or envisaged to ensure the free choice of employment of these workers in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention.

3. The Committee notes that the Government's report does not contain the information previously requested on the impact on employment of macroeconomic policies and structural reforms. It would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the measures and policies in fields such as investment, trade, prices, incomes, wages, and fiscal and monetary policies, as requested in the report form under Article 1. Please provide copies or extracts of reports or studies on the impact on employment of economic and social policies measures, as requested under Part VI of the report form.

4. Please describe the consultations on these matters taking place in accordance with Article 3.