Japan – Forced labour and modern slavery
Chapter 2. Action Plan
2. Areas of the NAP
(1) Cross-cutting areas
A. Labour (Promotion of Decent Work)
(Existing framework/Measures taken）
As measures that have already been conducted in the labour area, the Government made efforts to realize decent work by promoting labour policies to respect, promote, and realize the four principles concerning the fundamental rights stated in the ILO Declaration, namely: (1) freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; (2) the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; (3) the effective abolition of child labour; and (4) the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. For example, protection and promotion of the rights of workers are promoted through labour related legislation applicable to workers regardless of nationality, race, and ethnicity such as: the Labour Standards Act (Act No. 49 of 1947); the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (Act No. 50 of 1947); the Act on Securing, Etc. of Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment (Equal Employment Opportunity Act) (Act No. 113 of 1972); and the Mariners Act (Act No. 100 of 1947).
More recently, the revision of laws, including the Act on the Comprehensive Promotion of Labour Policies, and the Employment Security and the Productive Working Lives of Workers (Labour Policies Comprehensive Promotion Act) (Act No. 132 of 1966) in 2019 has resulted in new requirements for employers to establish necessary measures regarding employment management, such as the provision of counseling services, to prevent the abuse of authority, or so-called “power harassment,” in the workplace. The revision of these laws has also strengthened preventive measures against sexual harassment, such as the prohibition of disadvantageous treatment by an employer against employees who report.
- Promotion and Protection of Children’s Rights
(Existing framework/Measures taken）
As measures that have already been conducted, the Government has supported initiatives in the area of education that leads to eradication of child labour and measures against trafficking in persons by contributing to the UN Trust Fund for Human Security and international organizations. In addition, the Government has supported initiatives to enhance measures against trafficking in persons and protection of such victims mainly in Southeast Asian countries, through technical cooperation by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and contributions to various UN agencies. Furthermore, the Government has been making contributions to and participating in the Asia-Pacific regional framework, the “Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime” (hereinafter referred to as the Bali Process). The Government has also taken part in the WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online. Moreover, the Government reaffirmed the G20 commitment to eradicate child labour and various forms of modern slavery in the G20 Osaka Leaders’ Declaration and the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration, both compiled by Japan as the chair. For these initiatives, sufficient attention has been paid to gender perspectives considering that a large number of the victims involved are women and girls.