The Transformation of Japanese Employment Relations : Reform Without Labor

This book systematically evaluates the impacts of deregulatory reforms on employment relations in Japan especially focusing on the core white collar workers. Concentrating on changes in three aspects of employment relations; contracts, employee mobility and worker effort, it examines the process of social negotiation and its results. The Transformation of Japanese Employment Relations evaluates the impacts of deregulatory reforms on the employment relations of regular white-collar workers in Japan. Focusing on the aspects of employment relations such as contracts and mobility, this book takes a sociological approach that emphasizes the historical and political dynamics between the state, firm and labor behind institutional changes. The examples of deregulatory reforms include the expansion of the external labor market, the establishment of discretionary working time regulations, and the introduction of results-oriented labor management practices. The results of these reforms were the increase of non-regular employment that highlight the deep segmentation between regular and non-regular contracts, and the further intensification of effort-bargain for regular workers that even justifies unpaid overtime. All of these consequences, in policy outcomes and in the changes in employment relations, were clearly produced by the declining strength of labor in all levels of social negotiation, which the book concludes is 'reform without labor.' Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Sociological Theory of Employment Relations....Pages 1-16 Employment Relations in Postwar Japan....Pages 17-49 Political Segmentation of the Labor Market: The Establishment and Expansion of New Employment Forms....Pages 50-91 The DWS: Deregulation of Working Time and Its Impact on the Effort—Bargain....Pages 92-121 Re-bargaining Effort: The Introduction of Results-Orientation at COMPUJ....Pages 122-160 Conclusion: Changes and Future Directions of Japanese Employment Relations....Pages 161-175 Back Matter....Pages 176-231 Sociological Theory Of Employment Relations -- Employment Relations In Postwar Japan -- Political Segmentation Of The Labor Market: The Establishment And Expansion Of New Employment Forms -- The Dws: Deregulation Of Working Time And Its Impact On The Effort-bargain -- Re-bargaining Effort: The Introduction Of Results-orientation At Compuj -- Conclusion: Changes And Future Directions Of Japanese Employment Relations. Jun Imai. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.