Worker Welfare Services in Japan and Sweden's Employment Policies

Japan's worker welfare centers enhance productivity and support small businesses through essential services like retirement fund management.

### Worker Welfare Service Centers in Kawaguchi City, Japan
Kawaguchi City, near Tokyo, has a history of **small enterprises and poor working conditions** in its casting industrial complex. The Workers' Welfare Service Center offers livelihood support, insurance, and retirement allowance services to workers, with **350 centers and 1.47 million members** across Japan. The center's services help small companies with **retirement funds and attract capable employees**, ultimately **increasing labor productivity**.

### 스웨덴의 복지 정책과 노동시장 변화
스웨덴은 대기업 중심의 노동복지 정책으로 노동자 간 **양극화가 심했던 시기**를 겪었다. 1910년부터 1950년까지의 비정상적인 경제 성장으로 대기업 노동자들의 **임금이 상승하며 사회 갈등이 심화**되었다. 이를 해결하기 위해 스웨덴 정부는 **적극적인 노동시장 정책과 직업 훈련 지원**을 통해 일자리를 잃은 노동자들을 돕고 있다.

### Labor Market Support in Sweden and Germany
The labor office in Sweden, one of the largest government agencies, supervises industrial guidance and offers employment support centers. Both Sweden and Germany invest heavily in active labor market policies, with Germany's unique vocational education system providing **trainees and career guides for students**. Information folders and brochures are available to help individuals **explore different professions and their associated products**.

### Der Ausgleich zwischen Ausbildung und Arbeitsmarkt
Der Autor betont die **Bedeutung eines Gleichgewichts zwischen Ausbildung und Arbeitsbetrieb**, um gesundheitliche Probleme zu vermeiden. Aktive Arbeitsmarktpolitik soll **Arbeitslosigkeit in eine Chance verwandeln** und die Wirtschaft mit benötigten Arbeitskräften versorgen. Ein sicherer Arbeitsplatz und eine gerechte Wirtschaftsordnung sind entscheidend, um **aus der Krise herauszukommen**, und dies sollte auf europäischer Ebene angestrebt werden.

### Globaler Wohlstand und soziale Sicherheit
Ein einziges Ziel kann globalen Wohlstand für die Menschen bringen, indem es **Armut und Arbeitslosigkeit beseitigt**. Jeder hat die Möglichkeit zu arbeiten und Steuern zu zahlen, was zur **Schaffung von Sozialleistungen** führt. Arbeit wird als Wohlfahrt betrachtet, die das Leben sichert und Menschen **wieder in Arbeit bringt**.

### Worker Welfare and Labor Market Policies: A Comparative Look at Japan, Sweden, and Germany
* 🇯🇵 In Japan, Kawaguchi City, located just **30 minutes from Tokyo**, is known for its historic casting factories, where many small enterprises operate under **challenging working conditions and lack labor unions**.
* 🍱 The Workers' Welfare Service Center in Kawaguchi City provides essential services such as livelihood support, insurance, and retirement allowance deductions, benefiting **1.47 million members** across **350 centers** in Japan.
* 💸 Each company, regardless of size, contributes a monthly fee of **700 yen**, which helps cover **70% of retirement funds**, easing the financial burden on small businesses.
* 🇸🇪 Sweden, once facing severe labor polarization between wealthy and poor workers, transformed its labor welfare policies to create a **more equitable system**, demonstrating that **strong welfare can enhance productivity**.
* 🏢 From 1910 to 1950, Sweden experienced abnormal economic growth, leading to **rising wages for large corporation workers**, but also to **significant labor conflicts** that necessitated reform.
* 🛠 The Swedish government implemented proactive labor market policies to support unemployed workers with job training, ensuring that companies could **not pay below the agreed wage levels**.
* 🇩🇪 Germany mirrors Sweden in its commitment to active labor market policies, with a focus on **vocational education and support for young trainees** to ensure they **make informed career choices**.
* 🌍 Ultimately, the goal across these nations is to **balance the needs of workers and employers**, fostering an environment where everyone has the opportunity to **work and contribute to societal wealth**.

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