Read the Final Statement published by the NCP 3 June 2022: English / Japanese

On 12 July 2018, the Japan Cabin Crew Union submitted a specific instance to the Japanese NCP alleging that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, a Dutch multinational company active in the transportation sector, had not observed the Employment and Industrial Relations (Chapter V) provisions of the Guidelines. Specifically, issues relate to a company practice to employ Japanese cabin attendants only under fixed-term employment for three to five years. Cabin attendants in the home country are employed as regular employees, and only Japanese, Korean and Chinese are employed on a fixed term. The submitters suggest this constitutes a violation of the Guidelines as the company has failed to observe standards of employment and industrial relations not less favourable than those observed by comparable employers in the host country.

The Japanese NCP coordinated with the Dutch NCP and decided that, given the submitting party’s involvement with the AF-KLM Japan Branch, the base of KLM in Japan, and the potential relevance of Japanese laws relating to labour contracts, the Japan NCP would lead the handling of the specific instance. The Dutch NCP continued to act as support.

On 8 February 2019, the Japanese NCP concluded the initial assessment deciding to accept the case for further examination. Both parties were offered good offices but the company refused to engage stating that the issues raised had already been discussed through collective bargaining and judicial proceedings.

On 3 June 2022, the NCP published a final statement concluding the specific instance without agreement between the parties. The NCP recommended that KLM clarify its policy concerning the issues raised in the Specific Instance and, if necessary, brings its policy in line with the OECD Guidelines. The Japanese NCP urges KLM to respect the Guidelines when conducting its activities.

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