Automotive Unions Aiming to Get 5 More Days Off in 2025 "Shunto"

Tokyo, Jan. 19 (Jiji Press)--The Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers' Unions, or JAW, has decided to seek five more days off a year in the 2025 "shunto" labor-management negotiations in spring. 

Most automakers and auto parts makers give about 121 days off a year to their employees, fewer than roughly 125 days for workers in other industries and public servants.

JAW, which has about 780,000 member workers, plans to seek improvements in not only wages but also other working conditions. Its president, Akihiro Kaneko, has expressed concern, saying, "The attractiveness of our industries could decrease (if the situation is left unattended)."

To raise production efficiency, major automakers basically designate many public holidays as working days while allowing employees to take consecutive days off around the "bon" Buddhist holiday period in August and the year-end and New Year period. Auto parts makers also set working days and days off in accordance with automakers' policies.

The number of nonworking days in the automotive industries has not increased in recent years, because automakers and auto parts makers have stopped short of setting substitute holidays to newly added public holidays.

The automotive industries, which give fewer days off than other sectors do, are falling behind in the recruitment of new workers. "Job candidates are surprised when they know about the fewer days off," a JAW official said.

Against the backdrop, JAW's member unions have asked for a revision of the holiday system amid concerns over a deepening worker shortage.

Of the country's 16 national holidays, the confederation plans to demand that Coming-of-Age Day and Respect for the Aged Day be designated as nonworking days. The two public holidays take place on the second Monday of January and the third Monday of September, respectively, making three-day holiday weekends.

It is the first time for JAW to request an increase in days off since 1995, when giving 121 nonworking days a year became a standard in the automotive industries.

Member unions are expected to draw up their requests by Feb. 12 for submission to management.

But increasing nonworking days will make it necessary for automakers and auto parts makers to improve production efficiency further.

The management side is already on guard against the labor side's upcoming requests, with a senior official at a major automaker saying, "It seems difficult to improve productivity further as we have taken all possible measures."

It is unclear how much JAW's demand will be met, industry analysts said.

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