The impact of labor unions on safeguarding the well-being of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

Using a quantitative approach, we analyzed the extent to which Japanese unions alleviated workers’ difficulties with employment stability, income security, and work style during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found a statistically significant correlation between union membership and reductions in both working hours and income. We can interpret these results as suggesting a mechanism adopted to preserve employment. Union membership showed no layoff-preventing effect among regular workers but did prevent reductions in working hours of non-regular female workers. This finding contradicts the conventional image of Japanese labor unions as “regular employee clubs” and traditional assumptions of Japanese labor–management relations.