It’s unreasonable that there aren’t any chairs on the money register… “Cannot you sit down and serve clients?”Retailer employees complain of misery. What guidelines did the federal government resolve?: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Net

On the twenty fourth, employees on the money registers of supermarkets and comfort shops took motion. They submitted a petition to the Ministry of Well being, Labor and Welfare requesting that chairs be put in, citing the bodily and psychological stress that standing whereas working could cause. “Customer support whereas standing” has turn out to be frequent in Japan, however the state of affairs is completely different in different nations. What ought to we take into consideration their ideas? (Shintaro Soda)

◆ Occupational Security and Well being Rules: “Chairs have to be offered”

“From the viewpoint of defending the well being of employees and creating an setting through which a various vary of individuals can work, now could be the time to make the foundations extra particular and ensure they’re identified extensively.” On the twenty fourth, members of the undertaking “#Do not Sit?”, which consists of younger individuals who work standing at supermarkets and volunteers from the commerce union “Youth Union of the District Metropolitan,” appealed to the Ministry. of Well being, Labor and Welfare officers within the Weight loss program on the twenty fourth Ta.

The “rules” referred to by members are occupational security and well being rules established by ministerial order. Article 615 states, “Employers should present chairs that can be utilized by staff engaged in regular work in the event that they typically have the chance to sit down whereas working.” Concerning this provision, the members introduced a request to officers of the Ministry of Well being, Labor and Welfare asking to create a set of concrete examples, clarification of the scope of the roles, and dissemination of detailed info to make this provision a actuality.

◆ The UK, Brazil, South Korea, and so on. have despatched chairs.

The request notes that in nations such because the UK, Germany, Brazil, and South Korea, chairs are being put in at checkout counters in supermarkets and comfort shops. . “Because of world developments, the federal government should actively encourage firms to put in chairs from a employee security perspective.” An official from the Ministry of Well being, Labor and Welfare stated, “We wish to inform gather by interviews and different strategies and analyze our response.”

On the plant, individuals who labored standing complained in regards to the problem of “standing up”.

◆ Standing for 8 hours, even on holidays and mattress days

Kaede Mogi (22), a fourth-year college pupil who has been working part-time as a cashier at a grocery store in Saitama Prefecture since 2021, stated, “I’ve to face for 3 to 4 hours at a time , and my job. legs and decrease again really feel very drained.”

She stated that a few of her colleagues have decrease again ache and that they go for a therapeutic massage as soon as a month, whereas others have stopped as a result of their work is just too demanding. “I need folks to grasp that the setting is harder than they thought,” he stated. They’ve requested the corporate that owns the grocery store to put in chairs, however that has not occurred.

Misaki Sakamoto (27), a full-time employee who serves clients whereas standing at a retailer in Tokyo that sells cosmetics, stated, “I’ve to face for eight hours a day day, apart from an hour’s break. drained that I have to go to mattress.” There are days when I’m bedridden. It is an enormous psychological burden and bodily exhausting, and it’s extremely tough.”

◆“There are limits to what may be achieved by labor administration negotiation”

The members started their work on the finish of 2022, asking firms to put in chairs, amassing signatures in help of the marketing campaign, and holding occasions within the streets to lift consciousness. Not too long ago, a motion to introduce chairs at money registers has begun to unfold, together with at main low cost shops. Talking about at this time’s proposal, member Hanae Tominaga (25) stated, “I felt there was a restrict to what might be achieved by labor administration negotiations. We requested the Ministry of the Well being, Labor and Welfare, who’re liable for labor administration, go to the employer’s aspect and make it occur.

Concerning the advice to “sit whereas serving clients,” stated Mieko Takenobu, Emeritus Professor of Labor Sociology at Wako College, “If there’s a idea that’s good service to face up and present a sacrificial spirit to clients, that’s improper.”The supervisor’s job is to discover a approach for workers to work calmly and safely. If employees are drained, it impacts their work effectivity, in order that they should be given chairs.”

He stated, “The time has come when we’ve got to alter the way in which we take into consideration labor administration in Japanese society and what’s required for good service.” give some to firms. ”

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