============================================================
Fukuda Cabinet E-mail Magazine No.22 (March 13, 2008)
============================================================
"Kibo debuts. This is Yasuo Fukuda."
-- Message from the Prime Minister (Provisional Translation)
Kibo debuts. This is Yasuo Fukuda.
The season of the labor unions' annual round of wage bargaining is
in full swing. Yesterday, many corporations presented
their responses to the requests put forward by labor unions,
and agreed to increase wages.
Looking back over the past year, we see that economic uncertainties
have arisen as a result of factors including a slowdown in the U.S.
economy and the rise in the crude oil price, which has surpassed
the 100 U.S. dollar mark. Still, most Japanese corporations have
made clear their intention to match the level of wage increases
offered last year, and some have responded that they will meet
the full demands of the labor unions.
These moves, I believe, are underpinned by the recognition
on the part of corporate managers that it is time to share
with the people the fruits of the reforms, and that wages must be
increased to spur further expansion of the economy.
For its part, the Government will advance all the measures that
it can in order to address economic uncertainties and support
the forward-looking efforts made by the corporate side.
Specifically, for small and medium enterprises, many of which did
not rise on the wave of economic recovery and are still struggling,
the Government will implement measures to boost their growth
potential at the earliest possible date, focusing on policies
to strengthen corporate foundations, expand employment,
and revitalize the local regions.
The employment issue is not merely a matter of wages. Recent
statistics show that more than 30% of the overall workforce is
comprised of "freeters" (job-hopping young part-timers), part-time
workers, dispatched workers, and other workers engaged in
non-regular employment.
Corporations made efforts to maintain employment levels even during
the years when our society was grappling with the aftereffects
of the bursting of the bubble economy, and there was a period
when they had to rely on non-regular employees.
I feel that I must now call upon corporate managers to make even
greater efforts for the sake of those employees who, undaunted
by unstable employment conditions, have worked hard.
Job security leads to increased consumption, which results
in the expansion of the economy. Businesses and households are
inextricably linked. I am convinced that it is clear to all
in the business sector that there is a need to expand opportunities
for regular employment. The Government, too, will move to compile
measures, at an early date, to support efforts to increase
the number of regular employees.
The day before yesterday, the space shuttle Endeavour lifted off
successfully with Mr. Takao Doi on board.
Mr. Doi's primary mission will be to help assemble Kibo
(meaning "hope" in Japanese), Japan's laboratory module
that will be attached to the International Space Station, which is
being built through the cooperation of 15 nations around the world,
including Japan.
"We will construct our Japanese home in space."
Mr. Doi shared this thought just before the launch. We are now
taking this first step down the path that will lead
to the establishment of "a Japanese home in space." My heartfelt
prayers go out to Mr. Doi for the success of his activities.
* Profile of the Prime Minister
https://japan.kantei.go.jp/hukudaprofile/index_e.html
==========================================================
[What's New in Government Internet TV]
- Prime Minister's Week in Review (Feb. 26 to Mar. 2, 2008)
https://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/prg/prg1708.html
- KIBO_A Symbol of International Peace and Cooperation
https://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/prg/prg1707.html
==========================================================
[What's up around the Prime Minister]
- Advisory Council on "Rural Areas Revitalizing" (March 12, 2008)
and others
https://japan.kantei.go.jp/hukudaphoto/index_e.html
* Please click below to open the online magazine
"Highlighting JAPAN," which introduces the main policies of
the Japanese Government, as well as Japan's arts, culture,
science and technology, among other topics.
http://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/
==========================================================
[Fukuda Cabinet E-mail Magazine]
- Reader's Comment on the e-mail magazine is available only to the subscribers.
- Click below to make comments on administration of Japan
https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment.html
- Subscription and cancellation of this e-mail magazine
https://japan.kantei.go.jp/m-magazine/
==========================================================
General Editor | : | Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda |
Chief Editor | : | Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matushige Oono |
Publication | : | Cabinet Public Relations Office 1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968, Japan |