A major group of labor lawyers expressed opposition Monday to an industrial resuscitation bill submitted to the Diet by the government last week, calling the legislation "layoff promotion measures."

The legislation is aimed at concentrating the nation's efforts on reviving the industrial supply-side, with the government helping businesses shave off excess capacity, debts and personnel accumulated during the bubble economy years and shift such resources toward new and growth industries.

Pointing to the impact the legislation is expected to have on employment by facilitating the selloff of firms, corporate split-ups and business reduction, the Labor Lawyers Association of Japan, in a written statement, criticized the government move for effectively authorizing layoffs without ensuring workers' job security.

Although the legislation calls on companies seeking preferential measures by the government for reconstructing their businesses to pay due consideration to employment, the association claims the provision is ambiguous and clear-cut legislation is needed to ensure workers' status and working conditions.

Without such guarantees, the legislation would further stir unemployment unrest, drag down consumption and worsen the recession, Yukio Inoue, chief secretary of the association, warns in the statement.