The Changing Contours and Present State of Japan’s Trade Unions

Abstract

The Abe government’s policies for labour market deregulation and human resource mobilisation feature no concern for the role of trade union as representatives of the workers. Academics as well have little attention to the long-standing decline of Japan’s trade unions. Therefore, this paper explores and summarises the changing contours and current state of Japan’s trade union organisation and activity of the different sector workers, namely, core workers in the large private firms, workers in small and medium-sized enterprises, civil servants in national and local government, professionals and licensed workers, and non-regular workers. The second half of the paper explains the structural and long-term problems and major challenges of reform facing the unions in each sector. It also suggests appropriate measures to regulate employment relations from the perspectives of workplace, industry and local community. Finally, the author advocates that an ‘organic solidarity’ among the workers of diverse strata should be established.