The White House unveiled Monday a new strategy to combat organised crime, putting the Japanese yakuza and three other international crime groups on a list under which the US will freeze their financial assets and block entry of their members into the country.
President Barack Obama said that the expanding size, scope and influence of transnational organised crime and its impact on U.S. and international security and governance represents one of the most significant challenges in the 21st century.
"We encourage our partners and allies to echo the commitment we have made here and join in building a new framework for international cooperation to protect all our citizens from the violence, harm, and exploitation wrought by international organised crime," Obama said.
David Cohen, undersecretary of treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, told reporters that about 80,000 people are estimated to be members of Japanese crime syndicates and involved in a variety of crime such as drug trafficking and arms smuggling.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9OMVGR00&show_article=1
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
2011 - Minimum Wage Rises Slow - Working Poor top 10 million
A government advisory panel on Tuesday decided increases in hourly minimum wages this fiscal year should range from 1 yen to 18 yen depending on the prefecture.
Under the proposal, the rise in fiscal 2011 would stand at a national average of 6 yen, a significant drop from 15 yen the previous fiscal year, according to a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry estimate.
The subcommittee of the Central Minimum Wages Council, an advisory panel to the labor minister, concluded that it would be difficult to greatly increase minimum wages because a number of companies, especially in eastern Japan, have been seriously affected by the March 11 disaster, which has been compounded by restrictions placed on electricity usage this summer.
If wages are raised within the panel's proposed range, the national average hourly minimum wage is estimated at 736 yen.
For the disaster-hit Tohoku prefectures, the average hourly minimum wage is likely to rise from 644 yen to 645 yen in Iwate, with Miyagi and Fukushima likely to see increases of 1 yen to 675 yen and 658 yen, respectively.
The proposal on the wage increase range is expected to be officially approved by the council Wednesday. Prefectures nationwide will then introduce their new hourly minimum wages in October after local-level discussions on the matter.
One labor union official said, "To help rebuild the lives of workers in the disaster-hit areas, we need to raise minimum wages."
However, it has been difficult for employers to boost wages, with one saying: "The impact [of the disaster] is also serious in areas other than the Tohoku region. Companies don't have the capability of significantly increasing wages."
===
Working poor on the increase
With the national average minimum wage estimated to fall by 9 yen this fiscal year, the panel's proposal will weigh on laborers such as part-time workers whose wages are already at minimum levels.
Since fiscal 2007, the national average hourly minimum wage has risen by more than 10 yen per year. The revised Minimum Wages Law, which took effect in 2008 to prevent workers from receiving minimum wages that would put them within earnings levels requiring welfare support, was a major factor in the increases. In June last year, the government and representatives of labor unions also reached an agreement to try to establish the national average minimum wage at 800 yen as early as possible.
However, the March disaster has changed the landscape of the nation's labor situation.
In the Tohoku prefectures that were hit hard by the disaster, many companies are struggling to even maintain their current employees.
Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures saw their minimum wages rise about 12 yen to 13 yen in fiscal 2010, but they are expected to see a mere 1 yen increase in the current fiscal year.
The number of so-called working poor--laborers who earn less than 2 million yen a year--has exceeded 10 million. Among minimum wage earners nationwide, only those in Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima would be able to avoid living under the levels that require public welfare assistance, if the advisory panel's proposal is implemented.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T110726006066.htm
Under the proposal, the rise in fiscal 2011 would stand at a national average of 6 yen, a significant drop from 15 yen the previous fiscal year, according to a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry estimate.
The subcommittee of the Central Minimum Wages Council, an advisory panel to the labor minister, concluded that it would be difficult to greatly increase minimum wages because a number of companies, especially in eastern Japan, have been seriously affected by the March 11 disaster, which has been compounded by restrictions placed on electricity usage this summer.
If wages are raised within the panel's proposed range, the national average hourly minimum wage is estimated at 736 yen.
For the disaster-hit Tohoku prefectures, the average hourly minimum wage is likely to rise from 644 yen to 645 yen in Iwate, with Miyagi and Fukushima likely to see increases of 1 yen to 675 yen and 658 yen, respectively.
The proposal on the wage increase range is expected to be officially approved by the council Wednesday. Prefectures nationwide will then introduce their new hourly minimum wages in October after local-level discussions on the matter.
One labor union official said, "To help rebuild the lives of workers in the disaster-hit areas, we need to raise minimum wages."
However, it has been difficult for employers to boost wages, with one saying: "The impact [of the disaster] is also serious in areas other than the Tohoku region. Companies don't have the capability of significantly increasing wages."
===
Working poor on the increase
With the national average minimum wage estimated to fall by 9 yen this fiscal year, the panel's proposal will weigh on laborers such as part-time workers whose wages are already at minimum levels.
Since fiscal 2007, the national average hourly minimum wage has risen by more than 10 yen per year. The revised Minimum Wages Law, which took effect in 2008 to prevent workers from receiving minimum wages that would put them within earnings levels requiring welfare support, was a major factor in the increases. In June last year, the government and representatives of labor unions also reached an agreement to try to establish the national average minimum wage at 800 yen as early as possible.
However, the March disaster has changed the landscape of the nation's labor situation.
In the Tohoku prefectures that were hit hard by the disaster, many companies are struggling to even maintain their current employees.
Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures saw their minimum wages rise about 12 yen to 13 yen in fiscal 2010, but they are expected to see a mere 1 yen increase in the current fiscal year.
The number of so-called working poor--laborers who earn less than 2 million yen a year--has exceeded 10 million. Among minimum wage earners nationwide, only those in Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima would be able to avoid living under the levels that require public welfare assistance, if the advisory panel's proposal is implemented.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T110726006066.htm
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Tokyo Court Rules Valid Renewal Fees in Household Rental Contracts
The Supreme Court ruled Friday it is reasonable for landlords to seek renewal fees in renewing housing rental agreements with their tenants.
In the ruling on three lawsuits, in which it was claimed the fees run counter to the consumer contracts law to protect consumers' benefits, Yuki Furuta, presiding justice of the top court's second petty bench said, "The charges do not run counter to the law unless they are too high in comparison with rent or rental agreement periods."
Many apartments or houses mainly in the Tokyo and Osaka areas are rented to tenants under a contract which typically requires a fee equal to two-months' rent in renewing a two-year agreement.
In earlier rulings, the Osaka High Court rejected as being invalid a renewal fee of 76,000 yen for a one-year agreement with rent at 38,000 yen per month, and 100,000 yen for a similar agreement with rent at 45,000 yen, saying they lacked reasonable grounds.
But the high court endorsed a fee of 104,000 yen for a two-year agreement with rent at 52,000 yen, ruling the tenant could secure a place to live and the amount of payment was reasonable.
In the cases taken to the Supreme Court, tenants claimed that apartment or house owners could obtain unfair benefits by imposing the rental agreement renewal fees.
The owners argued for their part that renewal fees have been established for more than 40 years and should be viewed as a reasonable supplement to rents.
The Supreme Court endorsed renewal fees as supplementary to rent and payable for renewal, concluding their economic rationality cannot be denied.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9OFVD4O0&show_article=1
In the ruling on three lawsuits, in which it was claimed the fees run counter to the consumer contracts law to protect consumers' benefits, Yuki Furuta, presiding justice of the top court's second petty bench said, "The charges do not run counter to the law unless they are too high in comparison with rent or rental agreement periods."
Many apartments or houses mainly in the Tokyo and Osaka areas are rented to tenants under a contract which typically requires a fee equal to two-months' rent in renewing a two-year agreement.
In earlier rulings, the Osaka High Court rejected as being invalid a renewal fee of 76,000 yen for a one-year agreement with rent at 38,000 yen per month, and 100,000 yen for a similar agreement with rent at 45,000 yen, saying they lacked reasonable grounds.
But the high court endorsed a fee of 104,000 yen for a two-year agreement with rent at 52,000 yen, ruling the tenant could secure a place to live and the amount of payment was reasonable.
In the cases taken to the Supreme Court, tenants claimed that apartment or house owners could obtain unfair benefits by imposing the rental agreement renewal fees.
The owners argued for their part that renewal fees have been established for more than 40 years and should be viewed as a reasonable supplement to rents.
The Supreme Court endorsed renewal fees as supplementary to rent and payable for renewal, concluding their economic rationality cannot be denied.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9OFVD4O0&show_article=1
July - Radiated Meat Sold - Radiation worries continue
Fukushima beef contaminated with radiation has been sold in supermarkets and restaurants continuing the Japanese Government's appalling record in ensuring food safety and consumer confidence -
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110714005206.htm
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110714005206.htm
Seven & I March-May Net Profit Plunges 46% on EQ
Seven & I Holdings Co., which owns the Ito-Yokado and Seven- Eleven Japan retail store and Denny's Japan restaurant chains, said Thursday its group net profit in the March-May period plunged 46.1 percent from a year earlier to 13.11 billion yen, due partly to the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.
Pretax profit rose 29.5 percent to 68.21 billion yen. But the bottom line showed a year-on-year decline after the company booked an 18.1 billion yen special loss in disaster-related costs, and a 22.5 billion yen debit due to accounting standard changes.
Group first-quarter sales declined 9.9 percent to 1.12 trillion yen, partly reflecting a change in procedures for booking sales for its U.S. convenience store business, the company said.
Seven & I revised upward its earnings estimates for the year to February 2012, as the first-quarter results were better than expected.
Full year net profit is now projected to decline only 6.2 percent to 105.00 billion yen, compared to 87.50 billion yen forecast earlier. Sales are expected to fall 8.6 percent to 4.68 trillion yen, against 4.60 trillion yen forecast earlier.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9OAM3CO0&show_article=1
Pretax profit rose 29.5 percent to 68.21 billion yen. But the bottom line showed a year-on-year decline after the company booked an 18.1 billion yen special loss in disaster-related costs, and a 22.5 billion yen debit due to accounting standard changes.
Group first-quarter sales declined 9.9 percent to 1.12 trillion yen, partly reflecting a change in procedures for booking sales for its U.S. convenience store business, the company said.
Seven & I revised upward its earnings estimates for the year to February 2012, as the first-quarter results were better than expected.
Full year net profit is now projected to decline only 6.2 percent to 105.00 billion yen, compared to 87.50 billion yen forecast earlier. Sales are expected to fall 8.6 percent to 4.68 trillion yen, against 4.60 trillion yen forecast earlier.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9OAM3CO0&show_article=1
June - Prius Back to Number 1
Prius takes back no1 sales position in June following supply chain problems
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20110707a2.html?
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20110707a2.html?
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