November Is Squeeze Prevention Campaign Month
Overview
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in cooperation with the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency and the Japan Fair Trade Commission, will designate November as “Squeeze Prevention Campaign Month” and intensively conduct public information and awareness activities to prevent the shifting of burdens onto small and medium-sized business partners and promote work style reform. The background is that short delivery deadlines and sudden specification changes associated with work style reforms at large companies, short construction periods set by private-sector clients, and routinely prolonged waiting times for loading and unloading imposed by shippers can sometimes shift burdens onto small and medium-sized businesses. Activities will include distributing information through posters and leaflets, updating a dedicated website, online advertising, requesting cooperation from relevant organizations, and company visits by prefectural labor bureaus.
Key points
- The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will work with the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency and the Japan Fair Trade Commission to designate November as the campaign month and intensively conduct public information and awareness activities.
- Short delivery deadlines and sudden specification changes without appropriate cost coverage may shift burdens onto small and medium-sized business partners.
- Activities include public information through promotional materials and advertising, requests for cooperation from relevant organizations, and company visits by prefectural labor bureaus.
Overview
In addition to short delivery deadlines and sudden specification changes associated with work style reform initiatives at large companies, business practices such as short construction periods set by private-sector clients and routinely prolonged waiting times imposed by shippers may also shift burdens onto smaller businesses.
Impact
Through this campaign and other initiatives, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will work to create an environment in which small and medium-sized businesses can advance work style reforms without shifting burdens onto their business partners.
Details
Key activities include public information through posters and leaflets, updates to a dedicated website, online advertising, and requests for cooperation from ministries responsible for relevant industries, prefectures, and labor and management organizations. In addition, prefectural labor bureaus will make company visits and intensively issue requests aimed at prevention to large companies and others suspected of shifting burdens onto smaller businesses.