Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda began by explaining the council’s purpose, “to promote structural reform it is essential to take employment measures. The government will disclose a supplementary budget today (November 9) following the general employment measures which have already been announced. Today’s council was held to fight against these severe employment conditions with the combined might of government, labor, and management.” Trade and Industry Vice Minister Kojima touching on work-sharing said, “it is generally considered that each business’s labor and management will work for work-sharing independently. The government will not only promote work sharing but also improve those systems that enable diversification of working methods. Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Sakaguchi said, “we will take the RENGO/NIKKEIREN declaration to promote social consensus fully and cooperate in the promotion of activities for consensus building on various working patterns and work-sharing.”

Then, representatives from labor and management each made remarks. Sasamori emphasized that: “(1) 5.3% unemployment is a dreadful number and it is feared that it will worsen. The government should shift from supply-oriented policies and realize that the Japanese economy has descended into a deflationary spiral. (2) The RENGO employment hotline and unemployment survey has revealed serious matters such as unfair dismissals, unpaid wages, and age limits when recruiting and hiring workers. (3) The coming supplementary budget will not even provide momentary relief. The government should send out a solid message centering on employment. (4) RENGO & NIKKEIREN’s promotion of a social consensus reflects a sense of crisis on both sides. We want the government to take further steps toward a government/labor/management agreement.” Sasamori then stated, “based on a shared understanding by these three parties of the need to issue a declaration of employment emergency we hope to continue working-level discussions.”

Chairman Okuda of NIKKEIREN stressed that, “there is a possibility that structural reform will be deadlocked if nothing is done. Within the lines of structural reform, policies that bring immediate results are needed—such as temporary public employment.” At the same time Chairman Okuda touched on the RENGO/NIKKEIREN declaration to promote social consensus appealing for “special cooperation in order to promote social consensus by labor and management, as well as the government.”

After these appeals, participants exchanged opinions on issues including employment situation, youth measures, and the handling of bad loans. In conclusion, Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Sakaguchi summed up the meeting by saying “the government hopes to work together with labor and management to maintain and create employment, and also push ahead closely with the working-level.”