- The Ministry of Public Management announced today that the unemployment
rate for February this year is 5.3%, the same as the previous month.
The number of jobless persons is 3.56 million, showing an increase
by 380 thousand from the figure of the same month of the previous
year and recording 11-month consecutive increases. The ratio of active
job opening to applicants is 0.50, decreased by 0.01 point from the
previous month. The employment situation has become more severe without
a sign of improvement. Especially, the number of the involuntary unemployed
is 1.49 million and has been increasing at a high level in consecutive
7 months, increased by 540 thousand from the previous month.
- According direct hearings conducted by Rengo with 8,300 jobless
people in front of public job placement offices in mid February, the
situation is very critical. For example, 40% of them have been unemployed
for more than 6 months and 70% became unemployed involuntarily following
lay-offs and bankruptcies. The Middle- and old-aged jobless are faced
with the wall of the age limit and the people are suffering from heavier
burdens of social security premiums for both health care and pensions.
Rengo denounce that the Government is utterly unable to devise any
appropriate measures to cope with the situation.
- The government should face the reality of the employment situation
squarely, and should change its policies to give the highest priority
to the stability of employment and living conditions. As Rengo has
been repeatedly insisting, employment measures are the most effective
business stimulating measures. The government should implement the
second phase of the Urgent Comprehensive Employment Measure without
delay.
Simultaneously, the government should stop the unregulated labour
deregulation, including the extension of fixed-term jobs and dispatched
workers. Such deregulation is out of touch with reality. It only entertains
the pure market philosophy and spurs on the increased instability.
- Rengo urges that the government immediately hold a consultation
with Rengo and also a Tripartite Employment Conference in order to
review urgent employment measures. Rengo will organize General Actions
in the second week of April to call on the public to support Rengo's
demands.
|
