TNAG-0230-FCO40-266-Conditions-of-employment-of-labour-force-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 84

Zensen Domei are responsible for the Textile and Clothing industries which includes Knitwear and Hosiery, Textiles, Rope and Net) since in Japan the Trade union organisation is on an industrial basis and on the future alignment of workers employed by a company, where the major function of that company falls in the above heading, and all workers in the company, irrespective of occupation, are members of Zensen Domei. By law, the manager cannot be a member of the Union. Union dues which average about 1·50 American dollars per month are collected under the "check off" system which is universal and membership of the trade union is automatic after a probationary period. The Union pay some small benefits for sickness, maternity and marriage.

Bargaining and wage negotiation is undertaken at factory level but where national matters are under discussion Zensen Domei would institute the negotiations with a number of employees. In fact there are four forms of negotiation undertaken by the Japanese industry as follows:

1. Head Office of the Federation with principal manufacturers in the

country.

2. A specialised department of the Federation covering a particular industry

with manufacturers representing the employers in that industry.

3. Group negotiations with the assistance of operatives from the Zensen

Domei.

4. Individual factory negotiations where the local Union undertakes

discussions and negotiations.

Zensen Domei is a Federation of the Unions covering the various industries sited about and in Japan. The Trade Union is based on each factory being its own specific Trade Union, responsible for the membership in that factory with an overall accepted responsibility to Zensen.

Structure of the Trade Union

Zensen Domei is divided into six departments by industrial classification, namely cotton spinning, chemical fibre, wool, jute, and flax, silk and small and medium textile plants. These departments undertake the work of Zensen pertaining to their respective industry. They co-ordinate the activities of the affiliated unions and give these unions guidance and assistance in their dis- cussions. Zensen has branches in most of the prefectures, including Okinawa, which are directly responsible to the headquarters in Tokyo.

The individual unions located in the same prefecture belong to the pre- fectural branch irrespective of industrial classification.

Zensen Domei is affiliated to the Japanese Confederation of Labour which has 2,000,000 members in 23 industrial organisations and is a stronghold for the promotion of the democratic trade union movement in Japan. Mr. M. Takita, President of Zensen Domei is at the present moment President of the Japanese Confederation of Labour.

Zensen Domei is affiliated to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) through the Japanese Confederation of Labour and is also affiliated, as is the National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers, to the International Textile and Garment Workers' Federation.

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