Circumstances and Challenges Surrounding Labour Standards Administration (Excerpt)

1. Economic Situation
   • Severe employment conditions continue due to the lasting economic downturn.
   • Reduced spending by individuals and companies has had a negative impact on consumption in general, significantly reducing final demand in such areas as capital investments and residential construction.
2. Circumstances and Challenges Surrounding Labour Standards Administration
   1. Maintaining and improving working conditions under the current serious economic environment
   2. Smooth enforcement of the amended Labour Standards Law
   3. Issues relating to working hours, including the achievement of 1,800 total actual working hours per year
   4. Issues relating to the maintenance of worker safety and health, including industrial health activities
      • Necessity of further reductions in industrial accidents
      • An increased number of workers with positive findings possibly leading to brain or heart-related diseases�¨Promotion of the 9th Program to Prevent Industrial Accidents
3. Issues relating to Workmen's Accident Compensation Insurance, including measures to deal with complex and difficult insurance claims

Priority Measures in Labour Standards Administration in Fiscal 1999

1. Maintenance and improvement of working conditions
2. Smooth enforcement of amended Labour Standards Law
3. Measures for working hours
4. Measures for worker safety and health
   1. Development of measures to significantly reduce industrial accidents
   2. Development of measures to maintain worker health
   3. Development of measures to further improve safety and health standards in workplaces
5. Measures for Workmen's Accident Compensation Insurance

Fundamental Attitude in Labour Standards Administration

1. Implementing accurate and stringent supervision and guidance to maintain statutory working conditions
2. Positive and effective deployment of various guidance and assistance
3. Implementing accurate and effective public relations activities by maintaining close coordination with related agencies and organizations

Creating Healthy and Stable Working Environments for All Motivated Workers