Japan Labor Issues
Labor law and working rules
2025
- If a Fixed-term Labor Contract Has been Set Renewable for Up To Five Years, Is It Permissible for the Employer to Refuse to Renew the Contract in the Fifth Year When Workers' Right to Apply for Conversion to an Indefinite-term Contract Arises?
The Nippon Express (Kawasaki Branch) Case (PDF:621KB)
- Issues for Regulating Working Hours in the Post-Work-Style-Reform Era (PDF:239KB)
- First Revision in 12 Years of Industrial Accidents Recognition Criteria for Mental Disorders: Customer Harassment and Continuous Engagement in Work with High Risk of Infection are Newly Added (PDF:191KB)
2024
- Freelance Act Comes into Effect in November 2024 (PDF:707KB)
- What Is "Job-based Employment" (Job-gata koyō)? (PDF:791KB)
- Changes and Continuity in Non-regular Employment in Japan: Improved General Situation, Yet Persistent Gender Structure (PDF:789KB)
- Differences in the Base Salary and Bonus between Re-employed Entrusted Workers (Shokutaku) and Regular Workers, and Violation of the Former
Article 20 of the Labor Contracts Act
The Nagoya Driving School Case (PDF:853KB) - Dismissal due to Company Dissolution in the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Ryusei Taxi Case (PDF:603KB) - Fact-finding Research on Financial Compensation for Unfair Dismissal Cases in Court (PDF:3.9MB)
- Legality of Restriction on the Use of Restrooms in the Worksite by Gender Identity Disorder Employee
The State and National Personnel Authority (METI Employee) Case (PDF:635KB) - Will the Japanese Long-Term Employment System Continue to be Maintained? (PDF:977KB)
- Worker Status of Platform Workers under the Labor Union Act
The Uber Japan and One Other Company Case (PDF:923MB)
2023
- Can a Client Be Held Liable for a Breach of Obligation to Care for Employee Safety and Health Due to
Harassment against a Freelancer?
The Amour (Aesthetic Salon) and Other Defendant Case (PDF:659KB) - The Labor Policy Council: Functions of the Group Consultation in the Process of Forming Labor Policy in Japan (PDF:802KB)
- Examining Japan's Labor Standards Inspection Administration and Its Challenge from the Perspective of the Inspection Offices (PDF:959KB)
- Labor Tribunal Proceedings: The Paradigm Shift in Labor Dispute Resolution and its Future Challenges (PDF:1.0MB)
- Is a Part-time Instructor Whose Role is Exclusively to Teach University Language Classes a "Researcher"?
The Senshu University (Conversion of a Fixed-Term Labor Contract to an Indefinite-term Labor Contract) Case (PDF:626KB) - Disguised Contracting and the Deemed Labor Contract Application by the Client under Item 5 of Paragraph 1 of Article 40-6 of the Worker Dispatching Act
The Tori Case (PDF:255KB) - Employers' Duty for Safety of Multiple Job Holder Who Worked Excessively Long Hours
The Daiki Career-Casting and One Other Defendant Company Case (PDF:238KB)
2022
- The 5th JILPT Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar 2022 “The Impact of COVID-19 on Labor Market and Policy Responses ― Strengthening Social Protection for Vulnerable Workers” (PDF:3.34MB)
- Regional Extension of Collective Agreements under Article 18 of the Labor Union Act
The Regional Extension Decision by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare on September 22, 2021 (PDF:225KB) - Labor Law Policy on Freelance Work (PDF:256KB)
- Legality of Restrictions on Use of Worksite Facilities by a Transgender Employee
The State and National Personnel Authority (METI Employee) Case (PDF:218KB) - Overview of Employment Policy in Japan (PDF:250KB)
- Claim for Unpaid Overtime by a Public School Teacher
The Saitama Prefecture Case (PDF:263KB) - Gender Equality in the Workplace from a Legal Perspective: Current Situation and Issues of Japan's Equal Employment Opportunity Act (PDF:325KB)
2021
- A Dazzling Brilliance: In Memory of Dr. Tadashi Hanami (PDF:281KB)
- The 2021 Shunto: Results and Identified Issues from a Broad Range of Discussions Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF:332KB)
- Reduction in the Shifts of a Non-standard Shift Worker
The Silverheart Case (PDF:229KB) - MHLW's Guidelines for Promoting and Establishing High-quality Telework (PDF:193KB)
- Illegality of the Disparity in Working Conditions between Hourly Paid Fixed-term Contract Employees and Monthly Paid Regular Employees
The Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University (former Osaka Medical University) Case (PDF:240KB) - Labor Unions in Japan (PDF:385KB)
- The MHLW Study Group Proposes the Direction of Employment Policy for Post-COVID-19 (PDF:171KB)
- Judgment Declaring Fixed Overtime Pay Illegal and Upholding a Worker's Claim for a Solatium for Excessive Overtime Work despite No Resulting Health Damage
The Karino Japan Case (PDF:210KB) - Labor-management Relations in Japan
Part III: Systems for Resolving Individual Labor Disputes (PDF:659KB) - The 4th JILPT Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar 2020: "The Changing World of Work in Digital Age —New Forms of Work and the Role of Labor Policy" (PDF:3.6MB)
- The Worker Status of a Theater Troupe Member
The Air Studio Case (PDF:208KB) - Labor-management Relations in Japan
Part II: Trends and Current State of Collective Labor Relations (PDF:742KB) - Labor-management Relations in Japan
Part I: Characteristics of the Collective Labor Relations System (PDF:247KB) - Does the Conclusion of a Fixed-term Part-time Contract when Returning to Work after Childcare Leave Constitute the Cancellation of the Regular Employment Contract?
The Japan Business Lab Case (PDF:262KB) - The Law to Prevent “Power Harassment” in Japan (PDF:345KB)
2020
- The Employment Adjustment Subsidy and New Assistance for Temporary Leave (PDF:260KB)
- Whether a Staff Position in an Automobile Manufacturer Shall Be Deemed "Supervisory or Managerial Employee" Status under the Labor Standards Act: The Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. ("Supervisory or Managerial Employee" Status) Case (PDF:261KB)
- Do Educational Loan Programs Exempting Repayment of School Expense Lent by Hospitals on Condition of Working for Certain Periods Violate Article 16 of the Labor Standards Act?: The Kyoyukai Misumi Hospital Case (PDF:297KB)
- Obligating Efforts Concerning Measures to Secure Employment Opportunities up to the Age of 70: Revision of the Act on Stabilization of Employment of Elderly Persons, etc. (PDF:316KB)
- Spread of the Novel Coronavirus and the Future of Japanese Labor Policy (PDF:207KB)
- Proposal on Extinctive Prescriptions of Claims for Wages: The Labor Policy Council (PDF:137KB)
- Is an Owner-manager of a Convenience Store a “Worker” under the Labor Union Act?
The Seven-Eleven Japan Case (PDF:210KB)
- Challenges Facing Japan: Work Styles and Labor Shortages
MHLW's White Paper on the Labor Economy 2019 (PDF:366KB) - Realities of Restructuring Enterprise Organization in Japan: Frontlines of Industrial Relations (PDF:251KB)
- Worker Status of the Joint Enterprise Cooperative Members: The Joint Enterprise Cooperative Workers’ Collective Wadachi Higashimurayama Case (PDF:229KB)
- Legal Issues Surrounding Employment-like Working Styles: Disguised Employment and Dependent Self-employment (PDF:479KB)
- Thirty Years since JTUC-Rengo's Foundation: Challenges and Prospects for Japan's Labor Movement (PDF:273KB)
- Legal Liability Regarding "Power Harassment" and the Scope of That Liability: The Fukuda Denshi Nagano Hanbai Case (PDF:197KB)
2019
- MHLW's Interim Report on Points of Controversy regarding Employment-like Work Styles (PDF:353KB)
- Policy Challenges for the Introduction of AI and Other New Technologies: Report of MHLW's Committee on Basic Labour Policy (PDF:242KB)
- Long-term Employment as a Social Norm: An Analysis of the JILPT "Survey on Working Life" (1999–2015) (PDF:430KB)
- Binding Effect of Unilaterally Modified Rules of Employment Introducing a Performance-based and Ability-based Wage System: The Trygroup Case (PDF:163KB)
- Current State of Working Hours and Overwork in Japan
Part III: How Can We Prevent Overwork? (PDF:343KB) - Japanese Policy regarding Employment-like Working Styles (PDF:169KB)
- The 2019 Shunto in the Context of the JTUC-Rengo Wage Hike Summary Report (PDF:303KB)
- Does the Unilateral Discontinuance of Dues Check-Off by a Local Public Entity Constitute Unfair Labor Practices?: The National Government and Central Labor Relations Commission vs. Osaka City (Dues Check-Off) Case (PDF:218KB)
- Current State of Working Hours and Overwork in Japan
Part II: Why do the Japanese Work Long Hours? (PDF:361KB) - The 3rd JILPT Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar 2019 "The Future of Women and Work －Policy Responses to Women’s Employment" (PDF:2.03MB)
- The Leakage of Trade Secrets (Customer Data) by the Employees of Contractors: The Benesse Corporation Customer Data Leakage Case (Criminal Case) (PDF:286KB)
- Current State of Working Hours and Overwork in Japan
Part I: How Has It Changed Over the Years? (PDF:323KB) - Human Resources Development according to Diversified Working Styles: MHLW's White Paper on the Labor Economy 2018 (PDF:419KB)
- Employers' Obligation to Consider the Needs of Employees Returning from Childcare Leave: The Japan Business Lab Case (PDF:208KB)
- Combining Work and Family Care in Japan (Part II): What is the Challenge after Reforming the Long-term Care Leave System? (PDF:973KB)
- How Have Japanese Policies Changed in Accepting Foreign Workers? (PDF:335KB)
- Worker Status of the Commercial Agent: The Bellco Case (PDF:273KB)
- Combining Work and Family Care in Japan (Part I): Why do Women Leave Jobs at the Stage of Childbirth? (PDF:342KB)
- Why did Japanese Dual-earner Couples Increase since the Late 1980s? (PDF:594KB)
- Legal Regulation of Unreasonable Treatment of Non-regular Employees in Japan (PDF:231KB)
- Can "Owners" of Convenience Stores be "Workers" under the Japanese Labor Union Act? (PDF:280KB)
2018
- Are Wage Disparities Unreasonable and Illegal? Between Fixed-term Contract Employees Rehired After Retirement and Regular Employees: The Nagasawa Un-yu Case (PDF:213KB)
- The 2018 Shunto, 2% Pay Hike for five Consecutive Years; Regional Minimum Wages, 3% Rise for three Consecutive Years (PDF:377KB)
- On Payment or Non-payment of Premium Wages When Incorporated Into Annual Salary: The Iryo Hojin Shadan Koshin Kai Case (PDF:213KB)
- Work Style Reform Bill Enacted: Discussions Underway at the Council on the Contents of Specific Procedures (PDF:345KB)
- Japan's Employment System and Formation of the "Abuse of the Right to Dismiss" Theory (PDF:229KB)
- Challenges for Promoting Innovations and Realizing Work-Life Balance: MHLW'S White Paper on the Labor Economy 2017 (PDF:357KB)
- Course-Based Employment Systems and Gender Discrimination: The Towa Kogyo Case (PDF:194KB)
- Termination of Employment Relationships in Japan (Part III): Mandatory Retirement Age System (PDF:221KB)
- The 2nd JILPT Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar 2018 "Looking back at the policy responses to changes in employment structure and forms―The future as seen from here" (PDF:3.15MB)
- Analysis of Japan's Labor Economy 2017 (PDF:879KB)
- The Illegality of Differences in Labor Conditions between Regular Workers and Non-regular (Fixed-term Contract) Workers: The Japan Post Case (PDF:212KB)
- New Rules of Conversion from Fixed-term to Open-ended Contracts: Companies' Approaches to Compliance and the Subsequent Policy Developments (PDF:359KB)
- Termination of Employment Relationships in Japan (Part II): Dismissal and Refusal to Renew a Fixed-term Contract (PDF:230KB)
- Employment Quota for Persons with Disabilities at Private Enterprises to be Incrementally Raised to 2.3% (PDF:4.08KB)
- Termination of Employment Relationships in Japan (Part I): Resignation and Termination of Employment Contracts by Mutual Consent (PDF:311KB)
- The Future of the Japanese-style Employment System: Continued Long-term Employment and the Challenges It Faces (PDF:1.2MB)
- A Legal Study on Equal or Balanced Treatment for Regular and Non-Regular Workers in Japan: With Particular Focus on the Relationship between Anti-Discrimination Principle and Policy-Based Regulations for Equal or Balanced Treatment (PDF:315KB)
- Why Do the Japanese Work Long Hours? Sociological Perspectives on Long Working Hours in Japan (PDF:501KB)
- Challenges for Workplace regarding the Autonomy of Working Hours: Perspective for the Prevention of Overwork (PDF:325KB)
- Regional Minimum Wages Hiked by Average 3% for 2nd Straight Year: Hourly Rate Now 848 yen (PDF:375KB)
- Rengo Holds 15th Biennial Convention, Re-Elects President Kozu: Aims to Establish "Rengo Vision 2035" as It Nears 30th Anniversary (PDF:228KB)
- Validity of Wage Rules Deducting an Amount Corresponding to Premium Wages in Calculating Percentage Pay: The Kokusai Motorcars Case (PDF:268KB)
2017
- The 1st JILPT Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar 2017 "Identifying Major Labor Policy Issues in Contemporary World of Labor―Commonalities and Differences Crossing Regions and Nations" (PDF:3.38MB)
- Rengo Wavering in Party Support and Joint Struggle by Opposition Parties (PDF:64.3KB)
- Interpretation of Work Rules on Conversion from Fixed-Term to Open-Ended Contract for a College Lecturer: The Fukuhara Gakuen（Kyushu Women's Junior College）Case (PDF:717KB)
- Government Decides "Action Plan for the Realization of Work Style Reform": Relevant Laws To Be Amended Aimed at Overtime Limits and Equal Pay for Equal Work (PDF:640KB)
- The 2017 Shunto, Wage Rise in SMEs and Non- Regular Employment: Changes in Negotiations Led by Pacesetters (PDF:639KB)
- Polarization of Working Styles: Measures to Solve the Polarization and New Category of Regular Employees (PDF:1.4MB)
- Job Changes for Re-employed Retirees: The Toyota Motor Case (PDF:528KB)
- What is Japanese Long-Term Employment System? Has it Vanished? (PDF:729KB)
Related Information
Contact
International Research Exchange Section (Editorial Office)
E-mail：j-emm [at sign] jil.go.jp
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