Interest
Japanese Government Solicits Public Opinions on Proposed Guidelines to Improve Anime Subcontracting Terms
posted on by Kim Morrissy
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry submitted a proposed set of guidelines that aim to improve working conditions in the anime industry to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications website on April 27. It will be soliciting public comments until May 31.
The guidelines address the terms of contract between companies involved in subcontracting work and suggests the best practice. The main suggestions in the guidelines include:
- Adding a point in the contract that the production committee is responsible for organizing the schedule
- Adding tangible punishments for failing to comply with the terms of contract
- Providing examples of contracts that follow best practice under various circumstances.
Politician Tarō Yamada, former Japanese diet member and current leader of the "Party to Protect Freedom of Expression," has been campaigning lately about improving the working conditions in the anime industry. On May 22, he dedicated an episode of his weekly livestream discussing political issues to the latest JaniCA survey results and the problems in the industry.
On Monday, Yamada wrote a tweet urging the public to submit their opinions on the guidelines, saying, "The anime industry has only around 5,000 people in it and doesn't wield enough political power on its own. But there are even more people who love anime. Voices of agreement or disagreement alone won't change politics. With numbers on our side, we can change the guidelines and the law."
Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry website
