Japan business lobby wants commuting target to be revised

Japan’s largest business lobby has called on the government to revise its target of cutting commuters by 70%. 

The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, also known as Keidanren, said that if infections surge, the government should “use vaccines and antiviral pills and let social and economic activities continue”, according to The Asahi Shimbun.

It added that declaring another state of emergency should be avoided as much as possible. 

The target of cutting commuters “disrupts various economic activities,” Masakazu Tokura, chairman of Keidanren said at a press conference, highlighting also that businesses should still continue to allow remote working and accept alternative ways of working. 

The government had earlier urged businesses to help achieve its target of cutting commuters by 70% to contain the spread of COVID-19, supporting telework as an alternative.

READ: Japan proposes stimulus package for companies raising wages

However, Keidanren maintains that research on the number of people passing through ticket gates at major train stations in central Tokyo during peak hours showed no link between an increase in the flow of commuters and the number of people contracting COVID-19 from any one infected individual.