Yamoto transport president raps mail delivery bill

President Keiji Aritomi on Tuesday criticized a letter delivery bill for tightening the government’s grip on the business.

Before a House of Representatives committee, Aritomi said the bill would restrict even the catalog delivery service, which is now open to the private sector.

Yamato Transport, Japan’s parcel delivery company, has made clear its intention of not joining the letter delivery service that will be open to the private sector if the bill clears parliament.

The bill is now under parliamentary debate as part of a set of bills aimed at reforming the state-run postal services.

The strict requirements private firms have to meet to start the service will leave the letter delivery service in the hands of the government and only several private companies, Aritomi said.

Under such circumstances, Yamato would not be able to exercise its vitality as a private enterprise, he said, explaining why Yamato Transport is not willing to start the service.

Aritomi said if the letter delivery service remains monopolized by the government, consumer convenience would not improve.

Postal workers are opposed to the bill.

Masayuki Ishikawa, president of the central executive committee of the Japan Postal Workers’ Union, called for careful discussions on methods and conditions for opening the postal business to the private sector, citing the need to offer the same service throughout Japan.