Oita dinks to get dinged
02/13/2006 @ 6:00 am
Here is something that should keep the equality lawyers busy for a few years.
The city of Hita in Oita Prefecture (Kyushu) is planning to cut the pay of all employees whose spouses also work. The 20-percent reduction is scheduled to go into effect this April and remain in force for two years.
The measure is aimed at making up for an anticipated increase in its expenses following a planned merger with surrounding municipalities and a decrease in national government subsidies as a result of structural reform policies.
Hita Mayor Akitada Oishi said he will submit a draft ordinance on the measure to the municipal assembly in March. “We’d like to ask the assembly and local residents whether they will support the city’s plan.”
I think the Mainichi may have gotten this wrong. I read about this in my local paper last week.
I thought it was a reduction for couples whose wives also work for the city of Hita, not those whose wives work anywhere.
But I could have gotten it wrong, too.
February 13th, 2006 at 11:26 amIf that’s true, it’s outrageous.
February 13th, 2006 at 4:11 pmThe original Japanese Kyodo News article does say that the new rule applies to married couples who both work for the city of Hita. The wording in Japanese is “tomobataraki fuufu nado seikei wo tomo ni suru shishokuin….” See the original article here: http://www.excite.co.jp/News/politics/20060207131908/Kyodo_20060207a154010s20060207131910.html
February 13th, 2006 at 4:57 pmIt’s outrageous either way.
February 14th, 2006 at 12:12 amI don’t know anything about the labour law in this case, but I’m pretty confident speculating that this would be one of those things which is black-and-white illegal, yet mysteriously remains unprosecuted.
20%? Is that a joke? I’m suprised thats legal.
February 14th, 2006 at 5:44 amOh well. Nobody should expect to get rich working for a government.
February 14th, 2006 at 8:04 amThe Japanese press is reporting today that the mayor of Hida will not be introducing the legislation after all, after the national government leaned on him.
February 14th, 2006 at 12:38 pm“Nobody should expect to get rich working for a government.”
They’re not getting rich, exactly, but complaints have been growing lately in Japan at the relatively high salaries of people employed by local governments (and especially the benefits).
February 14th, 2006 at 12:44 pmHaha! Labour laws in Japan… I like that.
February 14th, 2006 at 1:57 pmYeah, Japan is probably one of the few “advanced” countries in the world that writes laws that stipulate no punishment for those who break them. Go figure, eh? But in this case, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (in Japanese 総務省) apparently did the right thing. An official of same apparently stated (in my loose translation), “We would hope the mayor of Hita understands that employee salary has to be paid fairly to all employees, as stipulated by law.” Bravo! Read the original Japanese language article here:
February 14th, 2006 at 3:10 pmhttp://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20060214-00000008-nnp-l44, and pay attention to the second and third paragraphs.
Lo and behold! things actually do work in Japan from time to time.