Seniority

...However, in the 1950s, some temporary layoff systems were provided with the condition of reemployment, but laid-off workers were considered to have left the company and were paid unemployment insurance. In addition, the order of layoffs and recalls is determined by agreement between labor and management based on the length of service for each unit of work process, etc., and is determined based on the so-called seniority system (those with longer years of service are laid off later and reemployed earlier), and this is an unmistakable rule (seniority system). In Japan, while dismissals are considered to be something that must be avoided as much as possible, not only are there no clear standards for the order in which dismissals are carried out, but in reality, middle-aged and older workers with longer years of service are often chosen for dismissal, whereas layoffs are relatively easy to carry out (although there are cases where the premise is that working hours will be reduced), and the standard of seniority is well established. ...

*Some explanations of terms that mention "seniority" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…もっとも，1950年代の一時帰休制度には，再雇用の条件つきながら，一時帰休者は離職者とみなされたうえ失業保険金を支給されるものもあった。また，レイオフおよび再雇用recallの順序は，労使間の協定によって，作業工程等の単位ごとに勤続年数を基準にして決められる，いわゆる先任権seniorityに基づいて決定される(勤続年数の長い者が遅くレイオフされるとともに，早く再雇用される)というまぎれのないルールが確立している(先任権制度)。日本では，解雇は極力避けなければならないとされている一方，解雇が行われる場合にその順序について明確な基準がないばかりでなく，実際には勤続年数が長い中高年労働者が解雇の対象に選ばれることが多いのに対して，レイオフは比較的容易に行われる(労働時間を短縮することが前提となる場合はある)一方，先任権という基準が確立している。…

※「seniority」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報