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Thousands of union workers and activists rallied in Tokyo on Monday, marking International Workers' Day, also known as Labor Day or May Day. Rallies were held in Yoyogi and Hibiya parks.
About 30,000 people attended the Yoyogi Park rally, organized by the Group of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren). Participants protested against the plan by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calling for a maximum of 100 overtime hours a month. They also demanded higher pay and better working conditions.
Representatives of the National Trade Union Council and Japan Communist Party chief Kazuo Shii also spoke at the rally.
The Abe government’s plan to cap overtime at 100 hours per month has come under fire from unions which say it will do nothing to stop death from overwork.
The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, known as Rengo, officially says overtime should not exceed 45 hours a month.
© Japan Today
15 Comments
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Dango bong
if these people work full time in companies then I am Abe Lincoln
noriyosan73
If they can do this, then there can be a nation-wide strike to stop forced overtime. Everyone can't be sacked.
some14some
Most of them look like retirees in 70's rather than workers.
Speed
Shows that most of the politically active members of society are the oldies.
The young and middle-aged are extremely apathetic.
kurisupisu
I was too busy working to notice.....
DaDude
Is that picture a protest or dance routine?
Striker10
Is there anything more ineffectual than a union in Japan? Judging by the picture showing almost entirely retirees, it seems likely that this "protest" is just more window-dressing.
theeastisred
Why is the "guts pose" nearly always accompanied by placing the other hand on the hip? It somehow adds to the perception of weakness. That stance is also traditionally adopted by men drinking milk from tiny bottles in the changing area of public baths, by the way.
wtfjapan
That stance is also traditionally adopted by men drinking milk from tiny bottles in the changing area of public baths, by the way. but the milk in the small bottle are the most delicious, so that pose is justified.
wtfjapan
"Young man, theres no need to feel down, I said young man pick your self off the ground"
Mike L
Japan has a bright future with these energetic workers.
Wakarimasen
Japan has along tradition of activism on the revolutionary left. and this is what is left of it.
Dango bong
I also noticed the gut in the front right with the orange shirt that says don't raise taxes. Maybe he showed up at the wrong rally.
RarePepe
In Japan the protesters actually do work, unlike in the West.