Tomoko Yoshino (芳野友子) is the first female president of RENGO, Japan's largest labor organization.[1][2] In her role at RENGO, she has worked to reduce gender gaps in the Japanese workforce.[1]
Tomoko Yoshino | |
|---|---|
| 芳野友子 | |
 | |
| Born | 1965 or 1966 (age 57–58) |
| Occupation | Labor union leader |
| Known for | President of RENGO |
Yoshino is also one of a council responsible for implementing prime minister Fumio Kishida's trickle-down "new capitalism" economic policies aimed at addressing income inequality.[1][3][4][5][6]
Career edit
After high school, Yoshino started working at Juki, a company that makes sewing machines, in 1984.[1][2] She joined the Japanese Association of Metal, Machinery, and Manufacturing Workers (JAM), a manufacturing union.[1][2]
In 2015, she became vice president of the labor union federation RENGO and deputy head of JAM.[2]
On 6 October 2021 she was promoted to president of RENGO, making her the first female president in the organization's history and the first RENGO president to come from JAM.[2][7] She was chosen for a two-year term.[2] According to Yoshino, some of her male colleagues encouraged her not to take the job because "it was too difficult for a woman to handle the job in such a difficult time".[8] However, many women in RENGO supported her promotion as a sign of progress.[8] Yoshino said of her decision to accept the role: "I made up my mind that I should never miss a chance to break the glass ceiling by myself".[8]
In her role as chief of RENGO, Yoshino's goals include improving gender equality and diversity as well as supporting casual workers.[1][3]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f Reynolds, Isabel; Huang, Grace (29 November 2021). "Japan labor boss finds widespread resistance to female leaders". The Japan Times. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tomoko Yoshino becomes first female chief of Japan's largest labor body". The Japan Times. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ a b "First female head of Japan labor lobby vows to empower women". AP NEWS. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ "Japan's 'new capitalism' council taps female business pioneers". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ "PM Kishida's 'new capitalism' backpedaling toward Abenomics". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "Critics: Kishida's 'new capitalism' looks like return to old LDP plans". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "Yoshino to be 1st woman to chair Japan's largest labor group | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ a b c Sugiura, Eri; Lewis, Leo; Inagaki, Kana (14 December 2021). "Japan's first female trade union head was urged by men to turn down job". Financial Times. Retrieved 26 December 2021.