Legnl Policy for Harmonizing Working Life with Family Life

这项研究的目的有二：1)从法律角度分析工作生活与家庭生活和谐相处的现状；2)从未来制定法律政策的角度澄清问题。首先，我们分析了日本劳动力市场上女工的现状和法律问题，以及应对这些问题的立法和行政措施。这一分析阐明了日本法律在《平等就业机会法》中的独特地位，如单方面保护女工，以及所谓的与男工平等对待女工的努力义务。其次，分析了瑞典、法国和德国的情况。通过对比研究，我们确定了促进工作生活与家庭生活和谐的两项重要措施：为承担家庭照顾负担的人提供适当的支持，以及使雇佣关系本身具有灵活性。通过调动灵活部署员工会给夫妇继续工作造成困难，或迫使他们分开生活。对处理这一问题的Teikoku Zoki案进行了分析，并与许多判例进行了比较。报告还从工作生活和家庭生活协调的角度审查了全职转为兼职以生育和育儿为目的的经济解雇案件。最后，报告指出了更具体的政策问题，如《平等就业机会法》、《劳动基准法》中的妇女保护、儿童和家庭照料假以及兼职就业。

This research aimed at two purposes : 1)to analyze present situations concerning harmonization of working life with family life from the legal point of view ; and 2)to clarify the issues in terms of establishing legal policy in the future.First, we analyzed current situations and legal issues of women workers in the Japanese labor market and legislative and administrative measures to cope with them. This analysis clarified the unique position of Japanese law adopted in the Equal Emual Employment Opportunity Law, such as unilateral protection for women workers and the so-called "duty to endeavor"to treat women workers equally with men workers.Second, we analyzed situations in Sweden, France and Germany. From the comparative study, we confirmed two important measures for promoting harmonization of working life with family life : to provide appropriate support for those bearing burdens of family care, and to make employment relations themselves flexible.Third, we analyzed legal precedents concerning harmonization of working and family life. Flexible deployment of employees through transfers causes difficulties for couples to continue their working career or compels them to live separately. Teikoku Zoki case dealing with this issue is analyzed in comparison with many precedents. Economic dismissal case of an employee who changed her full-time position to part-time one for the purpose of child birth and child care is also examined from the perspective of harmonization of working life and family life.Finally, the report points out more concrete policy issues concerning the Equal Employment Opportunity Law, women protection in the Labor Standards Law, child and family care leaves, and part-time employment.