New IFWEA affiliate in Japan

The Institute of Labor Education and Culture (ILEC) recently joined IFWEA. This is IFWEA’s first Japanese affiliate. ILEC was formed in December 1995 in response to global political and economic changes. Through promoting a wide range of educational and cultural activities, the Institute aims to equip workers "to respond to social changes and the needs of a new era". From its inception, ILEC’s members included industrial unions affiliated to RENGO (the Japanese trade union confederation) and other organisations.

Workers’ education forms a core part of ILEC’s activities. It runs several special programmes. These programmes include training for women leaders, and courses on international issues. Themes such as the global environment and child labour are being prioritised. ILEC also runs public seminars on issues of contemporary relevance to the Japanese trade union movement. For example, the future of the wage system, and the role of Japanese trade unions in the 21st Century. ILEC researched recently the education needs of RENGO’s affiliates. The results of the research are now being analysed. ILEC hopes to establish a trade union education college for RENGO.

Alongside running education programmes, ILEC is involved in the production of education materials and other publications. Education materials have included information and analysis on RENGO and the internal reforms which it has initiated. ILEC has also produced publications on the history of the Japanese labour movement since 1945. It has aimed these publications at young workers. They are easy to read and understand.

Hisanori Nishimura from ILEC commented that "a few persons introduced us to IFWEA, and we thought that it was important to affiliate as a first step. We would like to learn more about IFWEA’s activities from now on".

Contact ILEC at: 3-2-11, Kanda-Surugadai, Ciyoda-ku, Tokyo 101, Japan; +88-3-52955421 (phone); +81-3-52955422 (fax).

email to IFWEA Journal: alana.dave@mcr1.poptel.org.uk