Japan labor leader vows to fight for stable, better work

By MARI YAMAGUCHI and ELAINE KURTENBACH
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — The head of Japan’s largest labor federation says stable work must be the top priority after the pandemic, which has hit women and other vulnerable groups the hardest. Tomoko Yoshino is the first woman to head Rengo, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation. In an interview with The Associated Press, she said she says she feels a heavy responsibility to “extend a hand to the disadvantaged.” Japanese unions traditionally have mostly just represented members employed in full-time permanent jobs. But Rengo is reaching out to other groups, including contract workers and freelancers. Chronic labor shortages in this fast-aging country have failed to push wages higher.