Legnl Policy for Harmonizing Working Life with Family Life

为了从法律的角度分析工作生活与家庭生活协调的现状，以及从今后制定法律的政策的角度明确问题，本研究首先分析了日本劳动力市场中女性劳动者的现状和法律的问题，以及为科普这些问题而采取的立法和行政措施。这一分析阐明了《平等就业机会法》中对女性劳动者的单方面保护和所谓的“奋进义务“等日本法律的独特地位。其次，我们分析了瑞典、法国和德国的情况。通过比较研究，我们确认了为承担家庭照顾负担的人提供适当的支援和使雇佣关系本身具有灵活性这两个促进工作与家庭生活协调的重要措施。第三，我们分析了有关工作与家庭生活协调的法律的先例。通过调动灵活部署雇员，给夫妇继续工作造成困难，或迫使他们分开生活。本文通过与许多判例的比较，对帝国商事案中的这一问题进行了分析。报告还从协调工作生活和家庭生活的角度审查了一名雇员因生育和照料子女而将其全时工作改为非全时工作的经济性解雇案件，最后，报告指出了有关《平等就业机会法》、《劳动标准法》中的妇女保护、儿童和家庭照料假以及非全时工作的更具体的政策问题。

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.