Japan Labor Issues
Labor-management relations
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)
- 2024 Shunto: The First Wage Increase Above 5% since 1991 with an Urgent Need to Spread the Trend to SMEs (PDF:400KB)
2024
- The 7th JILPT Tokyo Comparative Labor Policy Seminar 2024 “Challenges in Collective Labor Relations in the Context of Worker and Workstyle Diversification: Reassessing the Role of Labor Unions” (PDF:5.2MB)
- 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) - Measures Required to Achieve Sustainable Wage Hikes: MHLW's White Paper on the Labour Economy 2023 (PDF:1.1MB)
- Dismissal due to Company Dissolution in the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Ryusei Taxi Case (PDF:603KB) - Changes in Industrial Structure and Work Styles in Japan (PDF:1.9MB)
- 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) - 2023 Shunto: Highest Wage Hike in 30 Years, Yet Its Sustainability a Challenge (PDF:1.3MB)
- 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) - Labor Tribunal Proceedings: The Paradigm Shift in Labor Dispute Resolution and its Future Challenges (PDF:1.0MB)
- Japanese Companies' Wage Determination in the Heightened Climate for Wage Increases (PDF:520KB)
- The 2022 Shunto Results and Challenges: Labor and Management Shared a Recognition of the Need for “Investment in People” (PDF:296KB)
2022
- 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) - Claim for Unpaid Overtime by a Public School Teacher
The Saitama Prefecture Case (PDF:263KB) - Cooperation for Problem-Solving: The History of Quality Circles in Japan (PDF:462KB)
2021
- 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) - 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)
- 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) - 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) - Selection and Training of Women Officers in Japanese Labor Unions: Focusing on Enterprise Unions (PDF:453KB)
- 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) - What Is Shunto? (PDF:376KB)
- The Law to Prevent “Power Harassment” in Japan (PDF:345KB)
2020
- Is an Owner-manager of a Convenience Store a “Worker” under the Labor Union Act?
The Seven-Eleven Japan Case (PDF:210KB) - Proposal on Extinctive Prescriptions of Claims for Wages: The Labor Policy Council (PDF:137KB)
- 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)
- 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
- Binding Effect of Unilaterally Modified Rules of Employment Introducing a Performance-based and Ability-based Wage System: The Trygroup Case (PDF:163KB)
- 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)
- The Leakage of Trade Secrets (Customer Data) by the Employees of Contractors: The Benesse Corporation Customer Data Leakage Case (Criminal Case) (PDF:286KB)
- Employers' Obligation to Consider the Needs of Employees Returning from Childcare Leave: The Japan Business Lab Case (PDF:208KB)
- Worker Status of the Commercial Agent: The Bellco Case (PDF:273KB)
- The Sense of Humor to See Through Human Hypocrisy: To the Memory of the Late Professor Ronald Dore (PDF:135KB)
- The Corporate Community and Changes in the Japanese-style Employment System (PDF:406KB)
2018
- The 2018 Shunto, 2% Pay Hike for five Consecutive Years; Regional Minimum Wages, 3% Rise for three Consecutive Years (PDF:377KB)
- Are Wage Disparities Unreasonable and Illegal? Between Fixed-term Contract Employees Rehired After Retirement and Regular Employees: The Nagasawa Un-yu Case (PDF:213KB)
- Japan's Employment System and Formation of the "Abuse of the Right to Dismiss" Theory (PDF:229KB)
- On Payment or Non-payment of Premium Wages When Incorporated Into Annual Salary: The Iryo Hojin Shadan Koshin Kai Case (PDF:213KB)
- 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 Illegality of Differences in Labor Conditions between Regular Workers and Non-regular (Fixed-term Contract) Workers: The Japan Post Case (PDF:212KB)
- Termination of Employment Relationships in Japan (Part II): Dismissal and Refusal to Renew a Fixed-term Contract (PDF:230KB)
- Termination of Employment Relationships in Japan (Part I): Resignation and Termination of Employment Contracts by Mutual Consent (PDF:311KB)
- 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
- 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)
- The 2017 Shunto, Wage Rise in SMEs and Non- Regular Employment: Changes in Negotiations Led by Pacesetters (PDF:639KB)
- One in Every Three Workers Experienced "Power Harassment": MHLW is Taking Steps to Prevent It (PDF:641KB)
- Job Changes for Re-employed Retirees: The Toyota Motor Case (PDF:528KB)
Related Information
Contact
International Research Exchange Section (Editorial Office)
E-mail：j-emm [at sign] jil.go.jp
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