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Japan: Concerns raised over potential labour crackdown with arrests of 81 union members in Kansai region
Since 2018, police in the Kansai region of Japan have arrested 81 members of the Kansai District Ready-Mixed Concrete Branch of the All Japan Construction and Transport Workers Solidarity Union. The arrests were made on charges of obstruction of business by force and extortion. This incident has raised concern among labour unions and legal experts, who point to a growing trend towards restricting workers' freedom of association and collective bargaining rights in Japan.