Japan Times and many international media were repeatedly reported about the suicide case of Matsuri Takahashi (24), a female employee of major Japanese advertising agency Dentsu Inc. last December 2015. This case has been recognized as a case of death from overwork, or karoshi, after severe work conditions were ruled to have caused her to suffer from depression. The recognition was made Sept. 30 2016 by a labor standards inspection office in Tokyo’s Minato Ward.

According to her family and a lawyer, Takahashi started working at Dentsu in April 2015 and was assigned to a job related to internet advertising in June. Her workload grew sharply in October after she completed her probationary period, leading her to work some 105 hours a month in overtime, far longer than the limit set under a labor-management agreement.

Suicide cases due to overwork are in the spotlight in Japan. According to data from the Labor Inspection Office, as reported by The Asahi Shimbun, during fiscal year 2015 there has been a trial and 93 cases of suicide due to this working pressure.

 

Comment:

Since its inception capitalism indeed always subjects women, treats them as cheap workers or production factor. The peak role of women only merely translated into economics language that is how to produce materials and profits for capitalist business, including this case which involved a giant advertising company Dentsu Inc. in Japan.

On the other hand the ambition to economic growth – makes Japanese authorities having sacrificed their women simply because they view them as mere workers and the engine of economic growth, not as the mother of future generations and the honor to be guarded. As a result women in Japan are very vulnerable to become victims of the three circumstances at once, namely: the rapid flow of materialistic lifestyle ala capitalist, unjust labor policy of capitalism and the absence of the state’s role in protecting their rights as workers as well as citizens.

Labor problems at most of capitalist countries have certain pattern of exploitation that not far from three forms: (1) long working hours, almost without adequate rest periods, (2) low salaries, which are often not paid on time, and (3) arbitrary actions of employers who physically and sexually abuse them. All of these issues actually stem from the labor problem that has always faced countries that implement Capitalism.

The paradigm of Islam is in stark contrast to Capitalism, Islam actually maintains this sublime humane relation between the motherhood role of women and the quality of the future generation, by ensuring the nature of motherhood remains effective in the community and ensuring the sustainability birth of best quality future generation through the support of the education, social and economic system of the Islamic civilization, while at the same time keep ensuring women’s rights to education, social, politics and economic rights. The main empowerment of women in Islam is the optimization of its role as the guardian of civilization and the educators of future generations, NOT as a labor force. In Introduction to the Constitution (Muqaddimah Dustur) chapter “Nizam al-ijtima’i” stated: “the origin role of a woman in Islam is becoming the mother of her children and the manager of her husband’s house. She is an honor that must be guarded and protected. ”

Islam commands that women should always be guaranteed provision by their male relatives, and if they do not have any male relative, then the state will ensure their financial needs, according to the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى,

وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَا تُضَارَّ وَالِدَةٌ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوْلُودٌ لَهُ بِوَلَدِهِ ۚ وَعَلَى الْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذَٰلِكَ

“…the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother’s food and clothing on a reasonable basis. No person shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear. No mother shall be treated unfairly on account of her child, nor father on account of his child. And on the (father’s) heir is incumbent the like of that (which was incumbent on the father).”

(Al-Baqarah: 233)

The Khilafah would protect women from exploitation at the same time capable of creating an economic system that grows healthy and productive and able to overcome mass unemployment, ensure the basic needs of its citizens and allow individuals to have the same luxury. The foundation of his policy – directed to seek the distribution of wealth that is effective in guaranteeing the basic needs of all citizens, so this prevents the mass dehumanization for women. It would also enable the men to meet its obligations to provide financial needs for his family, while at the same time the state is obliged to provide for orphaned females who no longer have male relatives who support them.

Soon – with the permission of Allah – the Light of Islam will soon illuminate Japan, liberating its women from dehumanization and humiliation as a result of flawed ideology of Capitalism and rotten values of secularism. Let’s fight and fight for the return of the Caliphate led by a Caliph – a leader who is sincere, who would lift the economic burden that is too heavy on the backs of Muslims and non-Muslims and put them on his strong shoulders who will implement the systems of Islam. Insha Allah!

 

Fika Komara

Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir