New York sues Trump administration for records on labor-law rollback
New York is suing the Trump administration to get information about a new program the state says may let employers go unpunished by the federal government for violating labor laws. The U.S. Labor Department should be ordered to turn over information about the Payroll Audit ...
Most nonregular workers ignorant of new labor rule allowing for indefinite employment: survey
Most nonregular workers are unaware of a new rule that enables them to work until mandatory retirement age after spending five years at the same company, an online survey has shown. The rule, included in the revised labor contract law that was enacted in April ...
Worrying times for job security in Japan
The year 2016 was no walk in the park for workers nationwide. At one extreme, we have Matsuri Takahashi, a 24-year-old worker who felt she had no other choice but to take her life as a result of overwork. In October, the Ministry of Health, ...
Overwork sanctioned by both firms and unions, with dim prospects for state intervention: expert
When the suicide of a female worker at ad giant Dentsu Inc. was recognized as karoshi, or death from overwork, many blamed a corporate culture that glorifies the "warrior" workers who sacrifice themselves for the good of the firm. But the true problem behind the ...
Exploitative enterprises continue to menace society
On Dec. 15, the operator of Japanese-style pubs Watami Co. reached a settlement with the parents of a former employee who killed herself due to overwork. In the settlement, Watami admitted that the female employee's death was caused by excessive work, said Kazunari Tamaki, a ...
In Japan, adultery can cost you your job as well as your marriage
Companies must be able to prove that specific damage has been done to their business if they want to fire cheating workers.
Society helps sustain Japan's sordid sexual trade in schoolgirls
The continued success of the 'JK business' is fueled by the way Japanese society treats young women.
Suit over dismissal to tackle thorny issue of language teachers' employment status
At the heart of the Sulejman Brkic case is the issue of what, in legal terms, the nature of his employment status was while he worked for language school ICC: Was he an employee or a contractor?
ANA caricature speaks volumes about Japan's outdated mind-set
My personal opinion is that the ad is a disappointing anachronism, and a reminder of the parochial outlook of large Japanese corporations. The ad appeals to the facile formula that "foreigner = white = blonde and big-nosed = English-speaking = globalization.
An audit finds that 4,189 businesses have violated labor laws, including forcing extended work hours on employees and failing to pay overtime wages.
A grab bag of readers' mail in response to recent Community articles.
Unwritten perks can trump work rules, contracts, even laws
At a certain company, workers take their lunch break every day from 12 to 1 p.m. But just 10 minutes before noon, a small contingent of workers get up and leave the room. A few minutes later the fragrance of miso soup wafts in ...
