Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Japan (Ratification: 1967)

1. The Committee recalls its previous observation in which it examined information contained in the Government’s report in response to an earlier observation regarding the communications from the Japanese National Hospital Workers’ Union (JNHWU), concerning "wage-based" contract staff and alleging discrimination based on the type of their contract in contravention of the Convention. The Committee notes a further communication of JNHWU of 22 August 2001, as well as a communication of the JNHWU’s Tokyo District Council of 16 August 2001 regarding the same matter, which have been transmitted to the Government for any comments it may wish to make. Noting the information from the Government that it intends to submit its comments on these communications together with its next report on the application of the Convention, the Committee has decided to take up this matter at its next session.

2. The Committee, in its previous observation, also noted receipt of observations of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO) concerning the application of the Convention to part-time workers, which had been forwarded to the Government for comment. The Committee notes the communication of 3 July 2001 from the Community Union’s National Network, the Edogawa Union, the Nagoya Fureai Union, the Senshu Union, and the Ohdate Labour Union raising issues of a similar nature. Noting that the latter communication has been forwarded to the Government for comments, the Committee has decided to take up this matter, together with any comments the Government may have on both communications, at its next session.

3. The Committee further notes the observations received from the Fukuoka Women’s Association Union of 14 October 2001 alleging that the employment conditions of contracted employees at the Fukuoka Women’s Association constitute indirect wage discrimination against women contrary to the Convention. It also notes the observations of the Zensekiyu Showa Shell Union, the Shiba Credit Bank Employees’ Union, the Tokyo Union, the Women’s Labour Union and the Shonai Economic Federation Labour Union of 8 May 2001 alleging the existence of sex-discriminatory wage systems in a number of Japanese enterprises, as well as the observations of 15 November 2001 from the Nomura Securities Labour Union alleging discriminatory treatment of female employees in wages and promotion. These observations have been forwarded to the Government as well, and will be examined by the Committee at its next session together with any comments the Government may wish to make.