Six women who claimed they suffered gender-based wage discrimination at trading house Kanematsu Corp. lodged an appeal Thursday at the Tokyo High Court against an earlier ruling rejecting their damages suit.
On Nov. 5, the Tokyo District Court dismissed their suit on the grounds that Kanematsu's wage system did not constitute discrimination against women and did not violate the law.
The six women, three of whom still work for the company, had sought 319 million yen in damages.
They said the firm's policy of paying men and women different wages was not only illegal but also irrational and discriminatory, citing the fact that they performed the same jobs as their male colleagues.
The district court noted, however, that Kanematsu hired men and women to do different jobs and treated them accordingly.
While acknowledging that this practice violated Article 14 of the Constitution, it said it would only be considered illegal and invalid if it violated public order and was deemed irrational.
Article 14 states that, "All of the people are equal under the law and there shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin."
The plaintiffs joined Kanematsu between 1957 and 1982.