Survey Identifies Key Elements of a Friendly Workplace

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Mizuho Information & Research Institute, Inc. released on July 19, 2012, the result of a survey on worker-friendly environments targeting unlisted companies. The survey concluded that the employers' active involvement in and creation of a positive work atmosphere where everyone can appreciate each other is effective in making "decent work" a reality.

Decent Work is a concept that was first put forward at the 87th International Labour Organization (ILO) Conference in 1999. In Japanese, the term is translated as "rewarding and humane work." The concept consists of four components: (1) Employment: opportunities to earn a stable and adequate income are available to everyone, (2) Workers' rights: human rights, including the three rights of labor (the right to form and join labor unions, bargain collectively, and take collective action) are protected, allowing workers to feel safe to speak up and have their opinion heard, (3) Social protection: workers can pursue a career and have a family life, and have access to a social safety net that includes a safe working environment, employment insurance, healthcare, and pension, which also allows them to develop themselves personally, (4) Equality: men and women receive fair and equal treatment.