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12 April, 2002Unions stage huge march in protest at the government's economic and labour policies.
JAPAN: The IMF's affiliate in Japan, the Japan Council of Metalworkers' Union (IMF-JC), participated in the two-day rally on April 10-11 in Tokyo called by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO).
Over 10,000 workers joined the march to protest the 50-year record-high unemployment rate in the country, brought on by the government's poor economic and labour policies.
The unions, which have said that their patience has run out with a government which refuses an open social dialogue, are demanding the government implement urgent measures to stimulate the economy and improve employment opportunities. Other demands were for health and medical care reform without sacrificing workers, civil servants' basic rights and equal treatment of part-time workers.