In Japan, trade unions have focused on improving working conditions so that no worker is subject to violence and discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Such discrimination can limit workers’ access to social protection and workplace welfare provisions. Therefore, it is imperative that the labour movement ensure the rights of same-sex partners, as well as individual workers, are respected.
In 2016, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO) conducted Japan’s first LGBTI workplace awareness survey focusing on non-LGBTI people, where 8% of the respondents identified as LGBTI. Nearly 23 per cent of the respondents had witnessed or heard of LGBTI-related harassment at their workplaces.
Following this survey, RENGO has developed:
- Guidelines for Trade Union Action to Prohibit Discrimination Related to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) were issued in November 2017.
- A 2020-2021 Action Policy which states that ‘in order to create a society that recognises diverse types of families and lifestyles and to push for much-needed change in wider society. For example improving the workplace environment by promoting amendments to the Civil Code, such as the system of optional separate surnames for married couples and securing the rights of same-sex partners.
- Guidelines for the Practical Implementation of Anti-Harassment Legislation: These guidelines clearly state that harassment due to someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as ‘outing’ (unwanted disclosure of someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity) are also acts of harassment and are thus subject to preventive measures by employers.
