Present Status and Problems of the Government―made Working Poor

Abstract

Providers of public services are being diversified. However, it seems that such diversification increases the numbers of non―regular employees and the working poor. We report this based on the results of our surveys of temporary and non―regular employees of local governments （non―regular public employees） and employees in the private sector who work in projects where an order is placed by the local government （including commissioned projects, specified manager system projects, or public enterprises）. Unlike regular public employees, non―regular public employees have neither protection in the legal system nor compensation for limitations on basic labor rights. They differ from regular public employees and non―regular employees in the private sector in that they are not covered by legal protections enjoyed by those workers. The labor conditions of employees who work in projects in which an order is placed by the local government are strongly restricted by both their direct employer and the regulations governing procurement by the local government that places the order. The fact that the contractor bids on the project makes the problem more serious by forcing down prices and wages. The problem of the government―made working poor demands urgent resolution.