ILO Participates in International Conference Hosted by Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers’ Unions

ILO (International Labour Organization) reported on the Asia Automobile Conference held on April 21 in its latest newsletter.

On April 21, the Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers’ Unions (JAW) held the Asia Automobile Trade Union Conference online, with participation from ILO experts. This marked the sixth such conference, which JAW has organized since 2013 to build an international trade union network within the automotive industry. This year, representatives from eight countries and regions across Asia—including Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia—as well as the global union federation IndustriALL, took part.

Ms. Yuki Kobayashi from the ILO Office in Japan emphasized that “labour rights are human rights” and explained that while the term “human rights due diligence” may sound new, it is basically linked to the ongoing efforts of unions to promote labour rights. Also speaking from ILO, Ms. Yuki Otsuji of the Bureau for Workers’ Activities stated that “it is essential for trade unions to be recognized as legitimate stakeholders in global supply chain dialogues,” and stressed the importance of institutionalizing such dialogues so they do not remain one-off events.

Participating from IndustriALL’s headquarters in Geneva, Mr. Georg Leutert remarked that with legal frameworks progressing in Europe, “human rights due diligence is no longer optional. Companies must listen to our voices—and we, in turn, must continue to speak up.”

Mr. Tsuyoshi Kasuya, Director of JAW’s International Affairs Bureau, introduced JAW’s “International Vision 20-30,” which sets goals for securing fundamental labour rights, building constructive labour–management relations, and supporting the healthy, sustainable development of enterprises. He further stressed the need for “strong global union collaboration to ensure the effectiveness of human rights due diligence in global supply chains.”

In his closing remarks, JAW President Kaneko acknowledged regional differences, but highlighted that the automotive industry is likely to undergo structural transformation in pursuit of a sustainable, carbon-neutral society. He concluded by saying, “Ensuring the fundamental human rights of workers in the automotive sector and creating a society where people can work and live with dignity and happiness are vital and meaningful roles for trade unions.” (quoted above)

According to the International Affairs Bureau of JAW, JAW’s international activities have been ongoing since its establishment in 1972. From the beginning, JAW has been a member of International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF, now IndustriALL), actively participating in the international labour movement while building individual networks with overseas industrial labour unions, notably UAW in the United States.
Since 2007, when the overseas production volume of Japanese automobile manufacturers first surpassed domestic production, production bases in emerging countries—particularly in Asia and Latin America—have expanded rapidly. In addition to major manufacturers, many parts suppliers, including small and medium-sized enterprises, have actively advanced their overseas operations.

Anticipating the accelerating globalization of the automobile industry, JAW strengthened its international activities within Asia throughout the 1990s and 2000s. This included initiating regular bilateral consultations with industrial labour unions in various Asian countries, thereby intensifying its regional activities.

In 2013, eight Asian countries participated in the first Asian Auto Workers Union Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, and activities to build a network within Asia were further strengthened. Then, in 2017, 45 years after the founding of JAW, JAW formulated the “20-30 Vision” for its international activities.

The “20-30 Vision” outlines the kind of labour–management relations that JAW aspires to realize at overseas affiliates of Japanese automobile companies by 2030, as well as the desired role and identity of Japanese labour unions in achieving those relations.

The “20-30 Vision” sets forth three primary goals: securing fundamental labour rights throughout the global automobile industry, establishing constructive labour–management relations, and promoting the sound and sustainable development of companies. Its ultimate ideal is to achieve “the happiness of all people involved in the global automobile industry.”

Therefore, with regard to labour–management relations at local overseas businesses, the value consists of “understanding and sharing the importance and necessity of constructive labour–management relations,” while the framework insists that “labour–management dialogue is institutionalized and practiced.” To this day, the organization continues to undertake activities together with its partners in Asian countries.

The JAW believes that the key to realizing this vision lies in “whether or not Japanese labour unions can become the first place to consult with when labour unions at overseas businesses face challenges.”

Note: Ms. Yuki Otsuji of the ILO’s Bureau for Workers’ Activities joined JILAF in 2009, later worked at JILAF’s Bangkok office, and then joined the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in 2020.
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