Challenges in Collective Labor Relations in the Context of Worker and Workstyle Diversification – Reassessing the Role of Labor Unions
ONLINE SEMINAR
MARCH 26-27, 2024
As labor issues become more prevalent globally due to the advancements in globalization, there is an increasing demand for international comparative research to inform labor policy formulation. With this objective in mind, the Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training (JILPT) hosted the 7th JILPT Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar on March 26-27, 2024. The Seminar aimed to provide a platform for researchers from major countries and regions, particularly in the Asia Pacific, to engage in a comparative analysis of their respective challenges.
The 7th Tokyo seminar deliberated on how labor-management relations in different countries are influenced by the diversification of workers and work styles, and how labor unions are adapting to these changes. The event also examined the current state of labor-management relations and major issues in each country through international comparisons.
The seminar commenced with a keynote lecture by Dr. Hiroyuki Fujimura, President of the Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training, followed by a keynote address by Prof. María Emilia Casas Baamonde, President of the International Society for Labour and Social Security Law (ISLSSL). Subsequently, two sessions were chaired by Prof. Chikako KANKI from the University of Tokyo and Dr. Itaru Nishimura, Assistant Professor of Chuo University. Researchers from Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, and Thailand delivered presentations on the roles of labor unions, issues in labor-management relations, and legislative responses to the diversification of workstyles in their respective countries.
After the presentation sessions, Prof. Hideyuki Morito from Keio University moderated the concluding discussion session, with commentary provided by Takashi Araki from the University of Tokyo and Hideyuki Fujimura, President of JILPT.
The country presentations confirmed that collective labor relations in Asian countries commonly face the following challenges: declining union density, diversification of work styles due to technological development, blurring boundaries between employees and self-employed, and dual structure of the labor market (formal/informal sector, standard/non-standard employment).
There was diversity in each country’s response to these common challenges, reflecting the history of industrial relations and labor union legislation in each country. Some Asian countries have imposed strict requirements (number of members, registration system, single-unionism, and enterprise-based unionism) to become legitimate unions, and their abolishment or relaxation is discussed. In other countries like Japan, where few restrictions exist to organize labor unions, the introduction of a works council system, which represents all workers in the establishment, is discussed to countermeasure the declining union density and diversification of the workforce.
In the concluding session, various approaches were discussed to protect increasing freelance or employee-like persons properly: expanding the employee notion, introducing the intermediate notion between employee and self-employed, introducing special regulations for in-between persons, and utilizing other laws like competition law, social security law, tax law, and soft law. The necessity to consider which approach or combination of approaches to adopt, tailored to the circumstances of each country, was emphasized.
With insightful keynote lectures by ISLSSL President Baamonde and Dr. Fujimura of JILPT, alongside presentations from 10 Asian countries, and notable comments from chairpersons, followed by summary remarks by Prof. Araki, the 7th Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar successfully offered rich comparative insights and policy suggestions for navigating the evolving landscape of labor-management relations amidst the diversification of workers and workstyles.