One Wednesday in early December, Teruko Watanabe left home for her office job of almost 17 years at a consulting firm in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. But it was the last time she made the commute, because when she got to the office she was informed her contract had been terminated.
The news, which came from her staffing agency, hit Watanabe hard, as she had dedicated a significant part of her life to the company. That evening, the 58-year-old Watanabe gave her badge to a colleague and left the office for the last time.
For temp workers like Watanabe, there are no bonuses, no reimbursements for transportation fees and no severance pay. And because of amendments to labor laws, they face the constant threat of losing their jobs because employers want to avoid being tied down by a rule that allows temp workers to remain.