Japan becomes a country of working poor

So much has been made of Japan as a society that takes care of its own with fantastic benefits. For a long time it enjoyed a reputation as a middle-class society, without extremes of very rich or very poor, where everyone was equal.

That all changed this decade. In wake of the recession big business lobbied government to cut them some slack, and "reforms" were enacted. The old laws required companies to pay generous benefits to full time employees, and made it difficult to fire anyone. In theory, that system still exists. But like so many other things, the government found ways to preserve the formalities and official rules, but allow changes through the back door.

Now, about 40% of employees in Japan are "temporary" workers, filling jobs via employment agencies. They work in the same offices as their full time counterparts, and do the same job. But they are paid via another agency and earn far less, with no benefits or security. So you see, Japan still has excellent employee rights...its just harder and harder to become one in the first place, that's all.

Good story about it here.