National / Media | MEDIA MIX Sep 5, 2020
Competing interests of labor unions laid bare at TV Asahi
by Philip Brasor
When a company's workforce contains both journalists and news program workers, conflict can arise.
Business / Corporate Aug 27, 2020
Toyota drafting proposal for fully merit-based annual pay increases
It is rare for a major Japanese manufacturer to adopt a fully merit-based pay system, and the move is likely to affect the wage policies of other companies.
Business / Corporate Jul 21, 2020
Uber Eats' Japan union wants better accident compensation amid virus
The Japanese unit of the Uber Eats operator started an injury compensation program in October, which provides up to ¥250,000 ($2,300) for injuries per accident.
Asia Pacific Jul 16, 2020
Asia's garment workers say coronavirus used as a cover to smash unions
From factory floors in India to the warehouses of Cambodia, garment workers for global brands say the collapse in demand triggered by the coronavirus is being used as a cover to break their unions. The crippling effect of the pandemic has seen orders worth billions ...
World Jun 6, 2020
How a union and the Supreme Court shield Minneapolis police
by Reade Levinson - Michael Berens
After years of enjoying the protection of a powerful union, could the death of George Floyd open police officers in Minneapolis up to greater scrutiny?
Business / Corporate Jun 3, 2020
Japan Airlines eyes halving summer bonuses due to coronavirus
The airline operator has informed employees about the plan and intends to secure a labor union agreement this month, the sources said.
Business / Corporate Apr 11, 2020
Tokyo Uber Eats union demands hazard pay and equipment to protect against virus
A labor union representing employees of Uber Technologies Inc.'s food delivery service Uber Eats on Friday called for hazard pay and coronavirus protection for its delivery staff on the front line of the pandemic. Kento Suzuki, vice chairman of the union, which has about 30 ...
National Mar 19, 2020
Tokyo Disneyland workers press for wages to be paid through virus shutdown
A labor union for nonregular workers at Tokyo Disneyland on Thursday asked the operator of the major theme park to keep paying staff while the facility remains closed due to the spread of COVID-19. The union said the workers were told by the operator Oriental ...
Business / Corporate Mar 11, 2020
Jittery over COVID-19, Toyota and other Japan firms shun base pay hikes
Major companies were reluctant to offer base pay hikes during annual wage talks, with Toyota Motor forgoing its uniform monthly pay-scale increase for the first time since 2013.
Business Feb 20, 2020
Spread of COVID-19 casts shadow over Japan's shuntō wage talks
The widening outbreak of the new coronavirus originating in China has started to affect annual shuntō wage negotiations. Tougher wage talks are expected this year, with management increasingly cautious about agreeing to pay hikes amid growing concerns over corporate performance. The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or ...
Business | FOCUS Feb 12, 2020
Japan's efforts to raise wages wane as firms embrace merit-based pay
by Tetsushi Kajimoto and Izumi Nakagawa
More Japanese companies are shifting to merit-based pay as competition for workers heats up, but the change risks holding back the sort of blanket wage hikes the prime minister says are needed to inflate the economy. Ahead of annual labor talks set for March 11, ...
Business Feb 7, 2020
Japan firms slowly moving away from old ways on recruitment and pay
by Junko Horiuchi
Japan's unique, long-held employment practices characterized by annual new graduate recruitment, lifetime jobs and seniority-based pay raises have helped support economic growth in the postwar period. But many major companies have begun to question whether to continue with the decades-old system at a time when ...