JAPAN, in order to take its place with the democratic nations of the world, must revise and establish standŽards of employment for her women and children which will no longer make Japan synonymous with "sweat labor." Adequate laws regulating the hours of employment and other working conŽditions of Japanese women must be enacted if the interests of approximately three million or more gainfully, employed women. workers are to be safeguarded.

Japan already has, protective laws on its books, such as the Factory Act, the Industrial Workers' Minimum Age Act, and the Shop Act; but these laws have only limited coverage, set standŽards of unduly long hours and permit employment at too young an age.

Thus, it is necessary that proper laws safeguard the health of potential mothers and protect children from long working hours and employment in dangerous or hazardous jobs or those harmful to their health and welfare.

Unless such protection is given, the children of Japan will continue to be deprived of their right to full educational opportunities and their chance for development as healthy, intelligent, and useful citizens in a democratic society.

Some of the, points which new legislation must cover:

1)No discrimination with regard to wages between Japanese men and women. This must be enacted as a law in order to ensure its effective enforcement.

2) Establish a maximum eight-hour day and 48-hour week for Japanese women and some provision for limited overtime.

3) One day of rest in seven should be required by law for all workers, including women. In addition, such provision should be made for maternity leave before and after confinement during which they should be paid benefits.

4) Due to lack of adequate health facilities, it is important that Japanese women workers be permitted a certain number of days off each month due to physiological reasons. In any case, it should be seen that the women workers have the right to decide for herself whether she is able to work or not.

5) In Japan where much of the labor is accommodated in dormitories, necessary legislation should safeguard the social conditions in these quarters, so that they shall be given necessary individual freedom, adequate sanitary facilities and recreational opportunities.

So far I have stressed needed legislation governing the working conditions of Japanese women and children. But legislation without enforcement is a pretty package without contents. It is of no purpose to enact laws which adequately safeguard the employment of women and minors if the laws do not contain stringent penalties for violation and if machinery is not established for effective enforcement.

Not only are the standards set by the present Japanese laws inadequate, but they have "no teeth' in them." Providing for money fines constitutes a wager with the employer where he often stands to lose little. Only imprisonment or penal servitude will prevent the serious violations.

Further, inspections have been totally inadequate. At present there are only 68 inspectors, including only one woman inspector, enforcing proŽtective legislation for all Japan.

Under these conditions, it is readily understandable why violations have continued and violators have gone unpublished.

Labor laws can be made effective only through vigorous but understanding enforcement by the labor officials responsible for administration.

An important part of his job is that of educating employers and workers as to the benefits to be derived from good labor standards.

Effective enforcement means that well-qualified and trained inspectors including women inspectors must be provided in sufficient numbers to insure periodic visits to all establishments covered and to make reinspections whenever necessary.

To achieve this end adequate and continuing appropriations must be provided for administration.

Above all, effective enforcement means the active and informed support of employers, workers and the public.

Employers must be educated to the fact that good standards that protect the health and welfare the worker is "good business and that effective enforcement protects him from unfair competition of unscrupulous employers.

Workers can individually and through their labor organizations insure that the laws are observed.

The public must be awakened to the fact that effective enforcement of protective labor legislation is of paramount importance to the community as a whole.

Stander, Golda G. "Problems of Women in Industry and Child Labor in Japan," Nippon Times Magazine. April 3, 1947.