(Reinforcing anti-dumping measures and eliminating actions that unlawfully undercut target prices)

Initiatives to reinforce anti-dumping measures and eliminate actions that unlawfully undercut target prices $ {}^{Note\ 70} $ are being implemented in accordance with the amended Act on Promoting Quality Assurance in Public Works (amended Quality Assurance Act), which came into full force in April 2015, the amended Construction Business Act, and the amended Act for Promoting Proper Tendering and Contracting for Public Works (amended Tendering and Contracting Act). With respect to the elimination of actions that unlawfully undercut target prices in particular, surveys on actual conditions and on the reasons why actions that unlawfully undercut target prices are carried out have been administered to local governments four times to date in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Local governments engaged in this practice have been asked to reexamine their stance as soon as possible through various opportunities. Consequently, all (459) local governments engaged in this practice as of January 2015 as a matter of convention or for the soundness of fiscal administration at a local-government level agreed to abolish it as of April 2016.

## (Increasing the number of holidays in the construction industry (to realize two days off each week))

One factor that can explain why young people choose not to find and keep jobs in the construction industry is the lack of holidays. According to a survey on shorter working hours as conducted by the Council of Japan Construction Industry Employees’ Unions, approximately sixty percent of construction worksites incorporate schedules that offer no more than four holidays every four weeks (Figure 3-2-9). Efforts to improve on-site working conditions to enable workers to take two days off a week after setting up an appropriate schedule by taking into account the nature of

the construction project in question, local conditions, natural conditions, the number of days on which construction work will not be performed due to the conferring of holidays on construction workers, and other factors will be needed.

Since FY 2014, the MLIT has been carrying out model construction projects that provide workers with two days off a week. In FY 2015, initiatives were carried out through public-private partnerships to secure two days off a week for fifty-six construction projects.

Issues have been ascertained through model construction projects and solutions are being studied with a view to securing two days off a week as stated in the guidelines on the amended Quality Assurance Act, which called for securing and cultivating leaders.

## (3) Securing prospects for a stable, sustainable construction industry

Rapid increases and decreases in public investment amounts in the past gave rise to various adverse effects, including the emergence of non-conforming operations in the construction industry, frequent occurrences of dumping, and loss of human resources. With significant reductions in public investment, the environment surrounding the management of Japanese construction companies is worsening, the pool of young workers is shrinking, the workforce is aging, and other structural issues are arising. In recent years, wage levels have recovered along with a recovery in public investment amounts and the size of the skilled workforce has also remained somewhat firm. Nevertheless, it will be necessary to engage in the development of an environment that will allow construction business operators to believe that future prospects, such as in terms of a sustainable, reliable flow of public works funding, are bright in order to secure leaders who will bolster the future development of infrastructure.