Yuka Osawa

TOKYO:  Japan Federation of Medical Workers’ Unions (Nihon Iroren) participated in the so-called “Shunto” demonstrations and appealed for the protection of workers at medical institutions and nursing care facilities, including the expansion of the medical system and significant wage increases regarding the coronavirus situation.

Shunto is the annual event for the wage negotiations and struggles around February.

In addition to the Iroren, several confederations such as National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), participated in the Shunto demonstration on Friday.

Participants marched across the ritzy district of Marunouchi, central Tokyo, holding banners such as “Let’s make together the society where we can live more humanly with 8 hours work,” and “Protect Medical site, Nursing care, and Welfare.”

During this year’s march, some people called for an end to the consolidation and abolition of public and public hospitals, and appealed for the expansion of the medical system to strengthen the coronavirus measures.