Bar hostesses at Japan's 'kyabakura clubs' have announced their intentions to form a labor union, in the hopes of securing some basic workplace rights. The hostesses' role is simple: pay attention to the male customers. The women wander the clubs making conversation, pouring drinks, and lighting cigarettes. Many of the hostesses have complained of low wages, sexual harassment, and unfair fines. In some clubs, hostesses can be fined up to 20,000 yen (or US $230) every day they don't have customers. The union has been tentatively named the 'Kyabakura Union,' and hopes to become affiliated with a Japanese union representing part-time workers. Members and interested parties have planned a first meeting in Tokyo for later this month, to work out the logistics of officially forming the union.
See "Japan's bar hostesses plan to form labor union, Kyodo reports", Toru Fujioka, Bloomberg News, December 1, 2009