Generally speaking, labor laws apply to foreign workers in Japan who fall under the classification of "worker" as defined by the laws in question, regardless of whether or not their employment is permitted under their status of residence.

As a general rule, all Japanese labor laws, both worker protection legislation such as the Labour Standards Law, the Occupational Health and Safety Law, and the Minimum Wage Law, and others such as the Employment Security Law, the Worker Dispatching Law, and the Trade Union Law, apply to foreign workers whose actual place of work is in Japan and who fall under the classification of "worker" as defined by the laws in question, regardless of whether or not their employment is permitted under their status of residence. Article 3 of the Labour Standards Law prohibits discrimination in wages, work hours, or other work conditions on the grounds of the employee's nationality. The Unemployment Insurance Law stipulates that persons of foreign nationality residing in Japan should, in principle, be covered by unemployment insurance without regard to country of citizenship. Public employment offices provide job introduction and employment guidance services to Japanese and non-Japanese citizens without distinction, with the proviso that non-Japanese citizens must be eligible to work in Japan under the country's immigration control regulations in order to receive such services. Foreign workers in Japan are covered by workers' compensation insurance, regardless of whether or not their employment is permitted under their status of residence. Social insurance, such as the national pension system, the welfare pension system, and the national health insurance system, covers foreign workers in Japan. No inquiry is made to determine if the worker's employment is permitted under their status of residence, but if a related agency determines that the employment is not permitted, notification is to be made to the Immigration Office. Finally, national health insurance coverage is provided to persons anticipating a period of stay in Japan of one year or more, including non-Japanese citizens.