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Article 1 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of education and training policies. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, including the comments provided by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC–RENGO), received in October 2008. The Government indicates that it is promoting vocational guidance policies in line with the employment policies set out in the “Basic Principles of Employment Policies” established in February 2008. The Basic Principles of Employment Policies set out the Government’s economic objectives and determine the mid-term policies for the realization of these objectives. The Government indicates that vocational guidance policies are formulated and implemented with due consideration of the employment needs, opportunities and problems. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that its vocational guidance policies are promoted in line with domestic conditions and in a coordinated manner which allows for mutual adjustability with other policies, such as social security policies, industrial policies, educational policies and measures to address declining birth rates. In its comments, JTUC–RENGO expresses its concern over ongoing discussions in the country over the continued existence of the Employment and Human Resources Development Organization, a core agency which implements measures for the development of occupational skills. JTUC–RENGO considers that the abolition of the Organization might have a serious impact on the application and enforcement of the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the outcome of deliberations regarding the Employment and Human Resources Development Organization, and on the operation of the machinery in place for the development and implementation of comprehensive and coordinated policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Government might also take into account the relevant comments provided on the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122).
Article 3. Vocational guidance policy. The Government indicates that the Public Employment Security Offices (PESO) provide vocational guidance with a view to supporting the identification of problems that prevent employment, through conducting individual consultations, seminars, career consultations and counselling, in order to solve such problems. Similarly, the PESO provides support to jobseekers, who do not face particular problems in finding employment or in selecting an appropriate job. The Government also indicates that it implements specialized vocational guidance and vocational orientation services in accordance with the conditions of jobseekers, and provides employment information and vocational guidance for new graduates, in cooperation with schools. In particular, the Government and JTUC–RENGO also make reference to the introduction of a “Job Card Scheme” in April 2008 which is aimed at improving the opportunities for disadvantaged persons to take advantage of human resources development measures; and to promote the transition of such persons to sustainable employment. The Committee wishes to receive further details on the operation of the “Job Card Scheme”. The Government is invited to include any statistics or data available on the effectiveness of vocational guidance provided through the PESO.
Article 4. Vocational training systems for women. The Government indicates that it established, in 2006, “Mothers’ Hello work” in the PESOs which provides employment support to women who seek employment while raising children. Efforts have been made to improve vocational guidance by providing vocational consultations which are tailored to the needs of jobseekers, and to provide child-rearing information in coordination with local governments. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information, including statistical data, on the impact such measures have had on promoting access of women to education, training and lifelong learning.
Article 5. Cooperation with social partners. The Government indicates that the Basic Principles of Employment Policies, which includes policies for vocational guidance and training, was established in accordance with the conclusions of the subcommittee on Employment Security of the Council on Labour Policy. The Committee would appreciate receiving information on the means by which the cooperation of employers’ and workers’ organizations is ensured, including the subcommittee on Employment Security, in the formulation and implementation of vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes.
The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its reply to its 1999 direct request. It also refers to its request made this session under Convention No. 122 to be kept informed as to the impact of training programmes on employment promotion and on any progress made in ensuring equality of treatment for all categories of workers. It trusts that the Government will continue to supply detailed information in future reports as requested by the report form, and in particular, on the application of Articles 1 and 4 of the Convention.
1. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Government passed a law concerning the improvement of employment, management, etc. of part-time workers in 1993, and has issued guidelines on training for part-time workers. These stipulate that employers shall endeavour to promote effective utilization of part-time workers' abilities by implementing education and training in due consideration of the actual work conditions of part-time workers concerned and to maintain a balance with regular workers. The State and prefectures shall endeavour to pay due attention to vocational training of part-time workers. To this end, short-term ordinary vocational training has been provided at various training centres. The Committee would appreciate being kept informed of the impact of the law and guidelines on promotion of training for part-time workers, particularly women, to encourage and enable all persons, on an equal basis and without any discrimination, to develop and use their capabilities for work in their own best interests and in accordance with their own aspirations, account being taken of the needs of society, in accordance with Article 1, paragraph 5, of the Convention.
2. The Committee notes the measures taken under the Law concerning Improvement of System for Propulsion of Measures For Promotion of Lifelong Learning (No. 71 of 1990) include preparation of a basic plan for promoting lifelong learning and providing opportunities for learning through the capacity of private businesses. The Committee would appreciate being kept informed of the Government's progress in carrying out the basic plan, and receiving any available assessment which would indicate whether the basic plan meets the changing requirements of individuals throughout their life, as well as those of the economy and of the different branches of economic activity, as requested in the report form under Article 4.
1. The Committee notes the second and third reports of the Government, which contain information in reply to its previous direct request. It also notes the comments of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO) and the Government's reply.
2. The Committee notes that, according to the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO), vocational training opportunities for women, and particularly for women working part-time, are very insufficient. The Committee also notes that equality of treatment between men and women workers in respect of vocational training within the enterprise is one of the points covered by the voluntary system for checking the position of women workers. Please supply information on the progress achieved in this respect.
3. The Committee also notes the provisions of Law No. 71 of 1990 respecting further training of workers, and would be grateful if the Government would supply information in its next report on the measures that have been taken under this new Law.
4. More generally, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply in future reports detailed information on developments in the field of the policies and programmes covered by the Convention. Please refer in particular to the application of Article 1, paragraph 5, and Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention and, more specifically, to the measures taken to remedy shortages of labour and imbalances between economic sectors, which were reported by the Government in its report of 1990 on the application of Convention No. 122.
The Committee has noted with interest the Government's first report for the period ending 30 June 1988. It has noted the Government's reference to general provisions of relevant laws stipulating basic principles in respect of vocational guidance and vocational training in line with the provisions of the Convention. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would include in its future reports further information on measures taken for practical implementation of such principles, with particular reference to measures taken under the Basic Plans on employment measures and on vocational ability development. Please also refer to the following points:
Regarding the equality in vocational training provided by the employer, the Committee notes the Government's reference to section 9 of the so-called "Equal Employment Opportunity Law" (No. 113 of 1972). It further notes that the prohibition of discrimination based on sex in vocational training under this provision, read together with section 1 of the Enforcement Ordinance (No. 2 of 1986, of the Ministry of Labour) of the said Law, is limited in scope to the vocational training for the acquisition of basic skills necessary for workers to perform their duties and which is provided outside of the worker's performance of duties. Please supply in the next report further information on policies and programmes aiming to encourage and enable all persons, without discrimination based on sex, to develop and use their capabilities for work, with particular reference to the measures in respect of the vocational training which is not covered by the above-mentioned provisions (Article 1, paragraph 5, of the Convention).
The Committee notes that the Vocational Ability Development Promotion Law (No. 64 of 1969) calls for efforts by employers as regards vocational training of their employees (section 4, paragraph 1) and stipulates complementary measures to be taken by the State and Prefectures (section 4, paragraph 2, and sections 14 to 14-3). Please include in future reports information on measures of assistance to employers in this regard, such as various forms of grants, subsidies and loans (Article 2).
The Committee notes the Government's description of the role of the Public Employment Security Offices in the system of vocational guidance and employment information, and of their co-operation with schools in guidance and information for students and fresh school-leavers. Please include in future reports information on the Government's policies regarding provisions of employment information by private enterprises, for example, in the form of job-information magazines (Article 3, paragraph 1). Please also supply specimens of the documentation made available, such as the "Occupational Outlook Handbook" referred to in the Government's report, especially when it is updated (Article 3, paragraph 2). In the next report, please indicate measures taken to give effect to Article 3, paragraph 3, of the Convention (information on general aspects of collective agreements, and on rights established by labour laws).
The Committee also notes from the Government's report on the application of Convention No. 122 received in December 1988 that various employment measures, taken in response to the structural changes of the economy and for specified industries or areas, include measures in the field of vocational guidance and vocational training. It hopes that the Government's future reports will cover the measures of this kind, whether they are in the form of direct provisions of training or guidance by public institutions or of assistance to the employer (Articles 3 and 4). The Committee further notes that the report of the Central Education Council with regard to measures paving the way for life-long learning activities was submitted in January 1990 to the Ministry of Education. Please include in future reports information on the measures taken in response to this report concerning the workers' life-long learning activities (Article 4).