Temp workers bear brunt of recession in Japan

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GJDailleult at 08:20 AM JST - 11th February

So what are you taking issue with?

Simple. You can't eliminate the bottom rung of the ladder just by telling people they shouldn't be on the bottom rung of the ladder. The ladder has a bottom rung and somebody has to be on it, unless of course you want to go communist. And if you don't want government supporting people, then that rung better be strong.
WMD at 08:50 AM JST - 11th February

Would it make you happier if I told you I was staying awake nights worrying about some temp workers I've never met who finally realized they'd pissed away most of their chances in life and decided to just give up rather than picking themselves up and trying again

OK good response, made me smile!
GW at 10:00 AM JST - 11th February

space monkey

sounds like you enjoy the actual job, good on ya, now when yr internet idea takes off & yr raking it in be sure to let me know whats up so I can look into it as well! Just kidding, good luck, sounds like you will be doing ok in the future, keep yr eye on it!
shiuu at 10:56 AM JST - 11th February

Now, people realize their working conditions are an important problem

Yeah. Now.

Not when their parents and teachers told them to pay attention in school and learn something useful.

Not after they finished (or dropped out of) school when they had time to learn skills for something better.

Not when they were temping and could see that they were spinning their wheels in a dead end job.

Not when they spent all their money on booze and gambling when they could have been saving.

Now they care.

And they think I should, too.

Funny.
seesaw at 04:41 PM JST - 11th February

The reality of working in Japanese corporate office is not about how educated you are, or how hard you work your butt out. Those guys lost their jobs because they have no means to appeal themselves while in employment. All the guys who got to keep their jobs and paychecks are those who goes nomikai, golfing, gomasuri here & there...and for some J women, of course, by being 'kawaii' at work, sending loads of Valentine chocos' and when those dont work, by sleeping with their bosses....or somewhere to that effect.
Mayuki at 06:14 PM JST - 11th February

"So what are you taking issue with?" - tmarie

"Simple. You can't eliminate the bottom rung of the ladder just by telling people they shouldn't be on the bottom rung of the ladder. The ladder has a bottom rung and somebody has to be on it, unless of course you want to go communist. And if you don't want government supporting people, then that rung better be strong." - GWDailleult.

Beautiful. You have distilled the debate to its essence and I wish tmarie and others could get their heads around it.
Mayuki at 06:23 PM JST - 11th February

"Why is someone who has been on the job with no background training calling people "amatures" when he himself was hired as one?"

Firstly, it's "amateur", not "amature". And you're a teacher! Eeek! I guess you should have worked your butt that bit harder in your English classes.

Anyway, the article never said he wasn't trained to work in the engine plant, it said that he was replaced by non-production permanent personnel. Your powers of analysis and comprehension need some work too, tmarie sensei.
Badsey at 04:31 AM JST - 12th February

When companies are laying off by the thousands = don't be surprised if you are one of the apples to fall from the tree. It's all about costs = a higher salary may get you cut first.

Oh well, What can you do?

I am sort of amazed that people think all the ass-kissing will save them. Please don't be bitter when it doesn't.
tmarie at 09:42 AM JST - 12th February

Mayuki, do you think the personal digs helps your case at all? Argue the issue being discussed as really, resorting to personal insults and whatnot just shows me that you really can't support your opinion all that well.

Every society has the haves and have nots. If these folks want to be the "haves" they should take this time to go back to school. There are government supported programs for these folks. Question is will they swallow their pride, move back in with the folks and take these opportunities?
seesaw at 05:43 PM JST - 12th February

I am sort of amazed that people think all the ass-kissing will save them. Please don't be bitter when it doesn't.

Arse kissing works everywhere in Japanese companies. All my colleagues are doing it. One is sleeping with my boss and I have to bear with her selfishness, laziness and incompetency..
spucky at 08:22 PM JST - 12th February

I really dont understand why there are No Rules to protect Temporary Workers. My Wife is working for a international Company (Addeco) and even them dont accept international Rules! They give contracts only for 3 Month and then Renew it, this is in the EU. a criminal Violence)

Where ist the Union?
Mayuki at 01:04 AM JST - 13th February

"Every society has the haves and have nots. If these folks want to be the "haves" they should take this time to go back to school. There are government supported programs for these folks. Question is will they swallow their pride, move back in with the folks and take these opportunities?"

You have not addressed the issue. I don't think you even understand the issue. You are a capitalist and disagree strongly with socialist government policy, correct? Great, nothing wrong with that. You therefore understand that in a capitalist society, some people will be better off than others. You therefore understand, I assume, that there will always be people on the bottom rung of the capitalist ladder. It's the way things are, right? You said it yourself. Haves and have nots. I hope you can therefore make the connection that simply telling the "have nots" to become the "haves" by going back home to live with their parents (you so blithely assume they have that option, but never mind) will not solve the problem.

Can you make that connection?

The bottom rung of the ladder will still exist, and somebody else will be on it. The bottom rung jobs need to be done, otherwise they wouldn't exist. We need people to do the bottom rung jobs.

Now, and stay with me here, if we want to ensure a relatively stable society, with low crime rates, good public health, and a generally decent standard of living for people who do an honest day's work, albeit on a temporary contract, we need to ensure that the sizable number of people on the bottom rung are earning a living wage and are not exposed to exploitative labour practices that allow employers to profit without providing reasonable protection.

I am baffled that you cannot understand that telling people to undergo training and live with Mommy and Daddy will somehow lead to the elimination of these kinds of problems. Those who wander off to live in bucolic bliss will simply be replaced by somebody else. Japan's success in creating a peaceful and prosperous society was attributable in part to its high employment rate and fairly even distribution of wealth, meaning that the government didn't have to provide much in the way of social welfare. That is now changing, and it is a shame.

By the way, I think it is perfectly reasonable for me to draw attention to your lack of careful reading of any text. You harp on so much about your hard work and dedication to your education that you are inviting comment on it. Just be aware that your education in action is not terribly impressive.
tmarie at 11:19 AM JST - 13th February

Mayuki, those have nots CAN become the "haves" or at least "better than what I have now" if they work for it. Thing is, most are expecting some great job to drop out of the sky - that and free meals and housing. They didn't bother to prepare for tomorrow and are now paying the price. There is NO reason why a 20-40 year old man can't walk into a place and find decent work. Maybe places like conbinis are higher. Thing is, they pay less than what many of these guys expect so...

I have no problems with giving people in real need help. I don't however think that most of these people are really those that need help. Laziness and pride are not folks who need help. Those who are unable to work and suffer from mental issues however do need help. How do you suggest all these folks get help? Why don't you suggest a plan in which taxes aren't raised and everyone gets a nice hot meal and rood over their head. I have a suggestion - folks who have parents alive and willing to help return to those homes. Folks in need - like the homeless from before all this happened - are the ones that we need to be concerned about, not these recent homeless who should be ashamed of themselves for even thinking they need help.
GJDailleult at 07:56 AM JST - 14th February

There is NO reason why a 20-40 year old man can't walk into a place and find decent work.

I guess "global economic meltdown" doesn't make it as a good reason then. As they say, a high tide lifts all boats, and it is easy to claim you are up there because you are a better boat. But in the industrialized countries, nobody under the age of 45 knows what happens to their boat when the tide goes out. Unfortunately, they are probably going to find out soon.
tmarie at 09:25 AM JST - 14th February

I see signs everyday for places looking for workers. Mind you they aren't great jobs but I was raised to believe that a crappy job is better than no job. Seems others weren't raised that way.