Monday, December 1, 2008

Meeting with the Prime Minister on Employment in the Industrial Sector

Prime Minister Taro Aso met with Mr. Fujio Mitarai, Chairman of the Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), Mr. Tadashi Okamura, Chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and others including corporate managers, at the Prime Minister's Office, and discussed, among other matters, measures to address an economic slowdown.

In his opening address, Prime Minister Aso said, "As employment and wages are directly linked to the people's livelihood, we must safeguard them by all means. The Government and the ruling parties must swiftly put together employment measures, and I have just given instructions to the ruling parties to this end. I would like to hear your frank opinions on such measures." He then requested that the business leaders present work to improve the employment environment, referring to measures such as raising wages and avoiding cases in which employment offers are withdrawn.