JSD is making efforts to create local communities that are attractive, healthy, and comfortable to live in for everyone, be it an individual, local resident, company, industry, or trade union.

In this fiscal year, the major goal is to develop a consciousness among the affiliates and their members so that more practical activities may be undertaken in the communities.  To this end, the Prefectural Locals have been designated to promote the initiative.  By way of practical activities, they will be holding study meetings and tours, participating in community building programs, events, symposia and other activities sponsored by Non-Governmental Organisations, civic groups and local governments. They will also disseminate reports, announcements and other local information through the JSD Community Building Home Page.

Change is needed in the rules and mechanisms of society, in the attitude and behaviour of individuals and in many other things that have been traditionally taken for granted.  Otherwise, the employment and life of working people could not be secured today, when “full-time employees” and “male workers” are no longer the major employment practices in this country. 

Particularly in the distributive and service industry, in which most of the employees are female, part-time or atypical, high on the list of welfare-related challenges are efforts to secure diverse employment- and life-styles for working people, make their work life truly meaningful, and give them self-confidence, pride and peace of mind. 

As the working environment changes dramatically, all working individuals will be calling more strongly for the harmonisation of their lives in society and community, at home, and at work.  Specific measures that JSD is promoting through year-round negotiations in this regard include pressing for laws and establishing rules on part-time and term-employment workers based on the principle of equal treatment, realising equal pay by signing wall-to-wall minimum wage agreements, enforcing time management, and assuring occupational health and safety.

JSD tries to realise an industry that working people can be confident and proud of--an industry that can grow with the local communities.  JSD will carry out activities to help the industry go through a real change to raise overall productivity, achieve stable economic growth, and realise a qualitatively rich society.  JSD will make proposals based on the belief that an environment should be created where all working people in any type of employment are regarded as important business assets rather than costs, that the industry should contribute toward the revitalisation of local communities, and that employers’ associations should be formed in each section of the distributive and service industry to improve the industry’s overall social status. 

Specifically, JSD will be vigilant over corporate social responsibility and suggest and lobby industrial taxation measures.  For policies to be adopted effectively, JSD will tackle them on a policy-by-policy basis by lobbying the national and local governments, leveraging the framework of Rengo, undertaking research projects, cooperating with industry associations, disseminating information to the affiliates, and conducting fact-finding surveys.