By KAHO MATSUDA/ Staff Writer
February 7, 2024 at 18:06 JST
The Tokyo metropolitan government building (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
The Tokyo metropolitan government will consider adopting an ordinance that would protect service industry workers from customers harassing them by making unreasonable demands.
There is no precedent for such an ordinance in Japan, according to the metropolitan government.
The move follows a Tokyo government committee reviewing measures to address customer harassment stating on Feb. 6 that, “It would be desirable to enact an ordinance.”
The committee--whose members include representatives from commerce and industry organizations, as well as labor unions, university professors and senior metropolitan government officials--has been studying the matter since the autumn.
Some expressed hopes that the ordinance would be enforced on a legal basis to raise awareness of preventing customer harassment.
Others suggested a more “ideal type” would focus on building momentum and raising awareness rather than imposing penalties, considering the differing circumstances across industries.
Based on these opinions, the content of the ordinance will be considered in tandem with potential measures to be taken, including guidelines for each industry.
Customer harassment has become a widespread problem in the service industry, with moves to address it including taxi and bus drivers ceasing the mandatory displaying of their name tags.
In Tokyo, where there are many workers in the service sector, the metropolitan chapter of Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation) has also called for strengthened measures to combat the problem.
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