A bill to revise the law governing the dispatch of temporary contract workers is now before the Diet. Although the bill is unlikely to solve all the problems faced by dispatched workers, it represents the government's best attempt so far to protect dispatched workers, departing as it does from past goals of meeting management's desire to increase the freedom to hire and dismiss workers as economic conditions dictate.
Under the bill, the current temp system under which registered workers go without pay when there is no work will be banned in principle in three to five years — except for 26 fields of work that require specialized skills such as interpreting. There has been criticism that the 26 fields cover unskilled work as well, including filing and office machine operations. Assignments lasting two months or less will also be banned in principle.
Dispatch of workers to manufacturing companies will also be banned in principle, in three years. Dispatches will be allowed, though, if workers are assured of receiving pay continuously for more than one year even when work is not available.
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