Government–Labour Meeting Held for the First Time in 16 Years

On April 14, a government–labour meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office. Such a meeting, in which the government and labour leaders engage in direct dialogue, had not taken place since June 2009. Over the years, RENGO (Japanese Trade Union Confederation) had repeatedly requested its resumption, and the government finally responded, resulting in this renewed gathering.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Fukuoka, and Minister in Charge of New Capitalism Akazawa attended from the government side. Representing RENGO were RENGO President Yoshino, Vice Presidents Jimbo and Yamanaka, General Secretary Shimizu, and President Kobayashi of RENGO Niigata.

In her opening remarks, President Yoshino expressed her respect for the government’s decision to resume the meeting after a 16-year hiatus. She then outlined the current status of the spring labour offensive, in which wage negotiations at small and medium-sized enterprises are intensifying. Touching upon recent developments in U.S. tariff policy, she conveyed workers’ growing anxiety about the economic outlook and urged the government to take every possible step to ensure that this would not dampen the momentum for wage increases. She also emphasized the importance of exchanging views based on the real conditions of workplaces and local communities, particularly on long-term issues such as regional revitalization and the promotion of women’s participation in the workforce.

Prime Minister Ishiba expressed hope for candid exchanges of views, including on-the-ground realities, through the meeting. Regarding wage increases, he reiterated the government’s commitment to mobilize all available policies as part of its growth strategy, including promoting appropriate price pass-through and improving productivity. He also pledged to take thorough measures to prevent the burden of U.S. tariff issues from falling on workers in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Subsequently, discussions were held on various topics such as creating an environment for sustained wage growth, especially in small and medium-sized companies, regions where women and youth can work and live comfortably, correcting gender wage disparities, and the need to revise workplace and societal customs to encourage active participation by women.

A government–labour meeting is a forum in which top leaders in the Japanese government and the labour sector (RENGO) come together to directly discuss labour and economic policies.

The first and only official government–labour meeting under a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-led administration was held in June 2009 between then-Prime Minister Taro Aso and RENGO President Tsuyoshi Takagi. In the general election held on August 30 of that year, the LDP lost power and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) came to office. On October 30, 2009, a government–labour meeting was held between Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and President Takagi. Major topics included employment measures and non-regular employment issues. Similar meetings were later held under Prime Ministers Naoto Kan and Yoshihiko Noda.

Since the DPJ lost power in 2012 and the second Abe administration took office, several unofficial top-level talks have been held, but no official government–labour meeting has taken place.

In this context, the recent government–labour meeting marks a significant milestone—it is the first official government–labour meeting in 16 years under an LDP-led administration. The global impact of U.S. President Trump’s tariff policies, especially on prices, wages, and employment in Japan, remains unpredictable. It is therefore vital to further develop frameworks such as the government–labour summit and tripartite discussions among government, labour, and management, and to work in cooperation to navigate these challenging times.