Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

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

1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending July 1996 and the information it contains in response to its previous request. Referring also to the data published by the OECD, the Committee notes that despite an upturn in growth at the end of the period, total employment continued to grow at a very low rate, while the unemployment rate reached 3.4 per cent in 1996 which, according to the Government, is a historically high rate. The continued increase in the rate of unemployment among young people under the age of 25, which rose from 5.5 per cent in 1994 to 6.6 per cent in 1996 is also a reason for concern, as is unemployment among elderly workers.

2. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the deterioration in the employment situation is due to the problems arising from the business cycle added to structural problems such as changes in the structure of industry brought about by advancing internationalization. In this context, the Committee notes the adoption in December 1995 of the Eighth Basic Employment Measures Plan which is aimed at reducing the unemployment rate to 2.75 per cent by the year 2000 through comprehensive measures to support job creation and occupational mobility, and to train workers so that they can adapt to changes in the structure of industry, as well as specific measures to promote the employment of young people, women and elderly workers. The Committee notes these measures with interest, and recalls that the employment policy within the meaning of the Convention also extends to other aspects of economic policy. It notes in this connection that the Government refers to the appreciation of the yen and excessive regulation as contributory factors to the slow-down in growth and the deterioration in the employment situation. The Committee refers to its previous request in which it asked the Government to provide information on the impact on employment of macroeconomic policies and structural reforms, and hopes that such information will be included in the next report, particularly as regards the contribution to employment promotion of monetary, budgetary and exchange rate policies, trade policy and the implementation of the deregulation programme.

3. The Committee notes the statistical data concerning the New Comprehensive Employment Measures, which reveal a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries. The Committee also notes the introduction of new measures for the promotion of small enterprises, and to protect employment in industries in difficulty. It asks the Government to continue to provide information on the nature and scope of the different labour market policy measures implemented, including any available evaluation of the results obtained. With regard to the employment of women, the Committee notes the aims of the Eighth Basic Employment Measures Plan and asks the Government to state the measures taken as a result of them. With reference to its previous direct request and its comments on the application of the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), the Committee asks the Government in particular to provide information on the progress made in promoting the employment of women with medium and high skill levels.