When employers begin to choose 'stock type' and 'flow type,' employees who try to survive as 'stock type' will have to work harder with more loyalty to companies. In addition, discretion labor system will start. It is possible that employees will be forced to overwork in the intensified survival competition in the companies.
Then, how will this change of labor environment affect working women?
With Equal Employment Opportunity Law which was revised April 1, provision to protect women (prohibit women from working overtime, on holidays and late at night) was removed. It may be good for women who work as hard as men and have enough time.
But we have to consider that women will join the new employment environment. Under the multiple track, employers choose applicants of 'stock type' regardless of sex. Women, who cannot work as hard as men because of marriage, childbirth and child care under the division of role of sex, are forced to choose full-time employment or child care or postponement of marriage. If they choose child care, only part-time employment will be their option.
So far, it is discussed that women also should work. But in the future, women will be forced to work. Both men and women will have to work. If we leave this issue alone, the number of children will continue to decline. Workers and families will be affected most by the change of labor environment.
It is necessary for us to build society where people can work and do volunteer jobs as they raise child and care for elderly. It is necessary to take general family and labor policy to enable people to maintain family life and realize their dreams. To do this, we have to arrange child care leave, nursing leave, volunteer leave and reemployment system.
By arranging such a system, we can realize reduction of working hours in the lifetime. It can lead to work sharing of the lifetime working hours. For example, if one person take child care leave for three years, other person work instead of him or her. They compromise working hours in the lifetime with each other. |
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