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The RIKEN should stop an employ end of about 400 researchers and staff!

We call for the abolition of the employment upper limit for the development of the study.

Caller: RIKEN Non-regular Employment Problem Solving Network

Address:RIKEN President

RIKEN is about to force through a hiring freeze of some 400 researchers and  staff at the end of March 2023.

In the midst of a storm of severance and dismissal under the corona wreck, it is absolutely unacceptable for public research institutes to force mass severance.

When a definite term contract was over ten years, by revisions of labor contract method Article 18 of 2013, the researcher was required to switch it to an indefinite period employment agreement if there was a proposal of a worker to a user (indefinite switch rule). In 2016, RIKEN unfairly unilaterally changed its rules of employment, forcing a detrimental change that imposes a 10-year employment limit on researchers in order not to grant indefinite conversion rights.

As a result, about 200 researchers will be suspended at the end of March 2023. In addition, if the person in charge of the laboratory / research team included in the laboratory is suspended, the laboratory / research team itself will be abolished, and the research staff working there will also be suspended. As a result, a total of about 400 research staff will be suspended.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has repeatedly replied in the Diet that "it is not desirable to suspend employment for the purpose of intentionally avoiding the application of the indefinite conversion rule in light of the purpose of the Labor Contract Law." In addition, in principle, the Supreme Court's judicial precedents do not allow workers to make disadvantageous changes under the rules of employment unless there is a reasonable reason.

The suspension of employment of about 300 people due to the 10-year employment limit is disadvantageous change that violates the purpose of the Labor Contract Act. There is no reasonable reason to stop hiring for this reason, and it is an obvious illegal act.

It is clear that the loss of one-eighth (about 400) of RIKEN staff at one time will hinder RIKEN's research activities.

Dr. Kosuke Morita who discovered the 113th element "NIHONIUMU" at RIKEN, said " If RIKEN had such an employment system at that time, I would not have been able to discover “NIHONIUMU” because RIKEN researchers would not have been able to work freely and creatively on long-term research themes at all.

 

We, RIKEN Non-regular Employment Problem Solving Network, are a volunteer group consisting of citizens of Wako City, where the RIKEN Headquarters is located, labor unions, and officers of the RIKEN Labor Union, who gathered to solve RIKEN's non-regular employment problems.

Please understand the purpose and participate in the signature activity.

[Request details]

RIKEN should withdraw the suspension of about 400 research staff at the end of March 2023. Abolish the employment limit to intentionally avoid the application of the indefinite conversion rule.

that's all