Labor News

Here are the news and topics related to labor and social insurance issues in Japan.                                                     

2024.8.30 All Prefectures Reported Regional Minimum Wages for FY 2024; 27 Prefectures Exceed Guidelines; National Average being 1,055 yen
 

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has announced the revised minimum wages by region for FY 2024, as reported by the Local Minimum Wage Councils established in prefectural labor bureaus (announced on August 29, 2024).

This report is a compilation of the results of the investigation and deliberation by the local minimum wage councils based on the “Guidelines for Revisions of Regional Minimum Wages for FY 2024” issued by the Central Minimum Wage Council, an advisory body to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, on July 25, 2011.

The main points of this report are as follows
 

・1 prefecture raised the minimum wage by 84 yen, 2 prefectures by 59 yen, 1 prefecture by 58 yen, 1 prefecture by 57 yen, 3 prefectures by 56 yen, 7 prefectures by 55 yen, 3 prefectures by 54 yen, 1 prefecture by 53 yen, 2 prefectures by 52 yen, 6 prefectures by 51 yen, and 20 prefectures by 50 yen

・27 prefectures exceeded the amount of increase set in the guideline by the Central Minimum Wage Council, in comparison with 24 prefectures which did in the previous year.

・The national weighted average of the increase was 1,055 yen (1,004 yen in the previous year).

・51 yen increase in the national weighted average is the highest increase since the standard system began in 1978.

・The ratio of the minimum amount (951 yen) to the maximum amount (1,163 yen) is 81.8% (80.2% in the previous year. This ratio has improved for 10 consecutive years.)
 

The national weighted average amount was 1,055 yen, exceeding the 1,054 yen suggested as the guideline amount.

The reported revised amount is scheduled to take effect sequentially between October 1 and mid-October by decision of the directors of the Prefectural Labor Bureaus, following the procedures for objections from labor and management concerned at the Prefectural Labor Bureaus.

For details, please refer to below.

The revised amount and effective date for each prefecture can also be found in the Appendix.

＜All prefectures have reported their minimum wages by region for fiscal 2024.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_42150.html

2024.8.21 Announcement from Japan Pension Service “Sending Notices, etc. to Establishments Subject to Expansion of Coverage for Part-Time Workers” and Other Information

The Japan Pension Service (JPS) publishes “Notices from the Japan Pension Service” basically every month to provide information on the pension system, etc. to employers and employees insured by the Employees' Pension Insurance.

The August 2024 issue introduced the following 3 notices; “Sending Notification, etc. to Worksites Subject to Expansion of Coverage for Part-Time Workers,” “Notification of Those Not Insured by the Japanese Pension System Due to Social Security Agreements, etc.,” and “Have You Omitted to Notify the Dependent Spouse of the National Pension Plan's Category 3 Insured Person? and other information.

Click here for more information.

<“Notice from Japan Pension Service” August 2024 (National Edition)

https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/kounen/info/oshirase/20140627.files/zenkoku202408.pdf

Click here for the page containing “Notices from the Japan Pension Service.
Back numbers are also available.
＜The page where “Notices from the Japan Pension Service” is posted is here.

https://www.nenkin.go.jp/service/kounen/info/oshirase/20140627.html

2024.8.9 Wages paid digitally: Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare designates fund transfer service providers for the first time (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)

Wages may be paid in currency or, with the consent of the worker, by transfer to a bank or other financial institution's deposit or savings account according to the Labor Standards Act.

In addition to these payment methods, as of April 1, 2023, employers may, with the consent of workers, pay wages by transferring funds to the account of a fund transfer agent designated by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare as meeting certain requirements (so-called digital payment of wages).

After the enactment of this amendment, no fund transfer agency had been designated until August 9, 2024, when the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare designated “PayPay Inc.” as a first fund transfer agency for wage payments to accounts of fund transfer agencies, based on Article 7-2, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Labor Standards Act. 

MHLW leads you to confirm the announcement from the company regarding the start of the service.

The digital payment of wages requires the conclusion of a labor-management agreement at each workplace and the consent of each worker.

Supplemental information: The procedures for digital payment of wages at companies are stipulated by law (Article 24 of the Labor Standards Act and Article 7-2 of the Enforcement Regulations of the Labor Standards Act) as only obtaining the “consent of the worker (himself/herself)”. However, please note that “conclusion of a labor-management agreement” is also required in the notice (regarding wage account transfers, etc. [Kiho No. 1128, 2022]).

For details, please refer to the sites below.

＜Designation of Funds Transfer Service Provider for Wage Payment to Funds Transfer Service Provider's Account (Digital Payment of Wages)

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_41528.html

<Received designation from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare for digital payment of wages, plans to launch “PayPay Payroll Receipt” for all users within this year (PayPay Inc. / Press Release)

https://about.paypay.ne.jp/pr/20240809/01/

For more information on digital wage payment and designated fund transfer service providers, please confirm in the below web pate.

The site also introduces “Sample Forms of Labor-Management Agreement on Wage Payment Methods” and “Leaflet published in August 2024”.

<Payment of Wages to the Account of a Funds Transfer Service Provider (Digital Payment of Wages) (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare)

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/koyou_roudou/roudoukijun/zigyonushi/shienjigyou/03_00028.html

2024.8.2 Positive Image of Companies with High Childcare Leave Utilization Rate (Survey on Attitudes Toward Childcare Leave Utilization among Young People)

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has released preliminary results of a survey on attitudes toward taking childcare leave among young people, conducted as part of its "Project to Promote Male Employees to Take Childcare Leave (Ikumen Project)" (released on July 31, 2024).

The survey was conducted as a quantitative survey via the Internet (2,026 valid samples were collected), targeting young male and female high school and university students aged 18-25 nationwide.

The key findings of the survey are as follows

77.9% of young adults are aware of the need to balance work and private life.

The level of awareness of the childcare leave system among younger respondents was nearly 90%, with 92.4% saying they were aware of the system and 87.7% saying they intended to take it.

The strong desire among young people to take childcare leave was also evident, with 88.6% wanting their spouses to take childcare leave.

Furthermore, when asked how long they would like to take childcare leave, approximately 30% of men said they would like to take six months or more, and 16.0% of men said they would like to take one year or more, indicating a high level of desire for long-term childcare leave.

When asked about the period during which they wanted to take childcare leave, about 30% of men said they wanted six months or more, while 16.0% of men said they wanted one year or more, indicating a high desire for long-term childcare leave.

In addition, 61.0% said they "do not want to work for a company that does not have a track record of male employees taking childcare leave," indicating the importance they place on the "track record of such a data" in their job hunting activities.

When asked what kind of information about marriage and childbirth from a company would increase their desire to find a job, more than 30% of the respondents answered "the rate of male employees taking childcare leave" as the most important factor.

The survey also revealed that respondents have positive images of companies with high rates of childcare leave, such as "stable" (41.5%), "employee-oriented" (39.3%), "progressive" (22.6%), and "young employees can play an active role" (21.5%).

In this survey, we clarified and disseminated the attitudes of young people toward taking childcare leave and working styles, and the Ministry hopes to "increase social momentum for men in particular to take childcare leave, promote the use of childcare leave in small and medium-sized companies, and recruit and retain young human resources".

For more information, please click here.

<"Survey on Attitudes Toward Childcare Leave among Young People (Preliminary Figures)" has been released.

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kodomo/shokuba_kosodate/jigyou_ryouritsu/topics/tp100618-1_00004.html

2024.7.24 Guideline for Revisions to Regional Minimum Wages for Fiscal 2024 Determined; All Ranks to Receive 50 Yen Increase; National Average to 1,054 Yen per Hour

At the 69th Central Minimum Wage Council meeting held on July 25, 2024, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) released a report on the guidelines for revisions to regional minimum wages for fiscal 2024.

The main points of the report are as follows

Guideline for each rank

The guideline for the amount of increase in the minimum wage by region (the rule is that it is indicated by the hourly wage) for each prefecture is as follows:

Rank A, Rank B and Rank C: all JPY 50 per hour increase

Note: The minimum wage is calculated based on the economic reality of each prefecture. The guideline for the minimum wage increase for each prefecture is divided into three ranks (A-Ⅽ) according to the actual economic situation of each prefecture. Currently, 6 prefectures, including Tokyo, are ranked A, 28 prefectures, including Ibaraki, are ranked B, and 13 prefectures, including Okinawa, are ranked C.

The national weighted average increase is JPY 50 per hour, which is the highest since the guideline system began in 1978. This translates into a rate of increase of 5.0% (4.5% last year).

If the minimum wage is revised in accordance with the guideline, the national weighted average minimum wage by region in FY2024 will be 1,054 yen (currently 1,004 yen).

By region (prefecture), Tokyo will have the highest minimum wage at 1,163 yen, and Iwate Prefecture will have the lowest at 943 yen.

The regional minimum wage councils will make a report based on this report, as well as on surveys of actual wages in each region and the opinions of witnesses.

Last fiscal year, there was a series of revisions that exceeded the standard, and the national weighted average was 1,002 yen in the standard, but actually rose to 1,004 yen.

Although the guideline has been set for the time being, future trends will be closely watched.

For more details, please click here.

<Regional Minimum Wage Revision Guideline for Fiscal 2024>

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_41785.html

2024.07.23 Q&A on the Training and Employment System and the Specified Technical Skills System Released (Immigration Services Agency)

The Immigration Services Agency has released a "Q&A on the Training and Employment System and the Specified Technical Skills System" (July 19, 2024).

For example, the following questions are addressed.

Q. What is the purpose of this legal revision?
A. In recent years, Japan's labor shortage has become more serious, while international competition for human resources has also intensified. In addition, issues have been pointed out with the technical internship system to date, such as the discrepancy between the objectives of the system and the actual situation, and the protection of the rights of foreign nationals. As it is essential to accept foreign nationals as one of the measures to address the labor shortage, it is important to establish a system that is attractive to foreigners so that Japan can become the "country of choice" for foreigners and properly secure human resources to support Japanese industry.
The amendment to the law will develop and dissolve the technical internship system and establish a training and employment system for the purpose of human resource development and securing human resources, and will solve the problems that have been pointed out in the technical internship system, as well as bridging between the training and employment system and the specified skills system. The goal is to create an easy-to-understand system that allows foreign nationals to develop their careers while working in Japan, and to secure human resources who will support Japanese industry over a long term.

Q. When will the establishment of the "Training and Employment System" and the revision of the "Specified Technical Skills System" start?
A. The new training and employment system and the revised specified skills system will come into effect within three years from the date of promulgation of the revised law (June 21, 2024), but the effective date has not been determined at this time.
Once the enforcement date is decided, it will be announced on our website.

For details, please click here.
＜Q&A on the "Training and Employment System" and the "Specified Skill System" is available at

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/faq/ikusei_qa_00002.html

2024.05.31  Law to Amend the Child Care and Family Care Leave Law, etc. for the Purpose of Realization of Flexible Working Styles According to the Age of Children and Prevention of Leaving the Workforce for Nursing Care, etc. Promulgated in the Official Gazette

On May 31, 2024, the "Act on the Welfare of Workers Who Take Care of Children or Other Family Members Including Child Care and Family Care Leave and Partial Amendment to the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising Next-Generation Children (Act No. 42 of 2024)" was promulgated in the Official Gazette.

Under this revised law, in order to enable both men and women to balance work and childcare/nursing care, the following measures will be taken:

･expansion of measures to realize flexible working styles according to the age of children

･expansion of the coverage of the obligation to publicize the status of childcare leave taken

･promotion and strengthening of next-generation childcare support measures  

･strengthening of support systems to balance work and nursing care to prevent employees from leaving the nursing care workforce.

Companies will have to take measures to prevent employees from leaving their jobs to care for family members.

The revision requires revision of employment regulations (childcare/nursing care leave regulations) and compliance with the newly mandated provisions.

Basically, the enforcement date is April 1, 2025, but it will be enforced in several phases from the date of promulgation.

We expect that more information will be published in the near future to explain the revisions, but for the time being, we would like to introduce the contents of the Official Gazette.

For more details, here are the sites in Japanese.

＜Law Concerning Partial Amendment to the Law Concerning the Welfare of Workers Who Take Care of Children or Other Family Members Including Child Care and Family Care Leave and the Law to Promote Measures to Support the Development of the Next Generation (Law No. 42 of 2024)

https://kanpou.npb.go.jp/20240531/20240531g00131/20240531g001310005f.html

*The latest 30 days of information in the Official Gazette can be viewed free of charge.

Summary of the bill (enacted as proposed)

＜A bill to partially amend the Act on the Welfare of Workers Who Take Care of Children or Other Family Members Including Child Care and Family Care Leave and the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising Next-Generation Children (submitted on March 12, 2024)

Outline:

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001222652.pdf

Outline of the draft law:

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001222653.pdf

Text of the proposed law in comparison with the old one:

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001222655.pdf

2024.1.31 

Outline of a draft law to partially amend the Child Care and Family Care Leave Law, etc.: Labor Policy Council reports that it is appropriate to draft a bill （MHLW)

The Labor Policy Council of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported on January 30, 2024, that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's Labor Policy Council generally approved the "Outline of the Law Concerning the Welfare of Workers Who Take Care of Children or Other Family Members Including Child Care and Family Care Leave and the Law to Amend the Next Generation Nurturing Support Measures Promotion Law," which was submitted for consultation on the same day.

In response, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has prepared a draft law and plans to submit it to the current ordinary Diet session.
As for the so-called Child Care and Family Care Leave Act, the draft law includes the following proposed amendments to a wide variety of items, which are scheduled to come into effect in April 2025 or later.

・Amendments to child nursing care leave
・Amendments to nursing care leave
・Amendments to restrictions on overtime work for childcare
・Establishment of measures, etc. when a request for nursing care is made
・Amendments to measures concerning the development of the employment environment and employment management, etc.
・Amendments to public disclosure of the status of childcare leave taken
・ Amendment of measures to shorten the prescribed working hours for childcare
・ New establishment of measures for workers raising children from 3 years old to the beginning of elementary school
・ Amendment of measures for workers raising children up to the beginning of elementary school and for workers caring for their families, etc.

For more information, please click the URL underneath.

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/ houdou/0000073981_00012.html

2024.1.30 

Prefectural Insurance Premium Rates for FY2024: 46 Prefectures, Excluding Kanagawa Prefecture, to Change (Association Kenpo)

The Japan Health Insurance Association (JHIA) has released materials from the 128th meeting of the Management Committee of the Japan Health Insurance Association, held on January 29, 2024. At this Steering Committee meeting, the following items were presented:

"Determination of Prefectural Insurance Premium Rates for FY2024 (Draft) [Ref. 2-2]" and "Insurance Premium Rates for Long-Term Care Insurance for FY 2024 [Ref. 2-4]".

The main points are as follows;

The prefectural insurance premium rates were changed in 46 prefectures (22 prefectures lowered, 24 prefectures raised), excluding Kanagawa Prefecture. ) The national average of 10% is maintained.
The uniform national long-term care insurance premium rate was reduced from 1.82% to 1.60%.
Effective from March 2024 (April payment).
(Supplemental information: For those insured on a voluntary basis, the rate will be applied from April (for payment in the same month).

For example, the prefectural insurance premium rate in Tokyo for fiscal 2024 is proposed to be reduced from 10.00% to 9.98%. Since the nationwide uniform long-term care insurance premium rate is proposed to be reduced from 1.82% to 1.60%, if the premium rate is revised as planned, the premium rate in Tokyo will be reduced by 0.02% for those who are not Category 2 insured by long-term care insurance and by 0.24% for those who are Category 2 insured by long-term care insurance.

For more information, please click the URL underneath. Check with your local branch (prefecture) for proposed changes.

<128th National Health Insurance Association of Japan Steering Committee/Materials (Japanese site)
https://www.kyoukaikenpo.or.jp/g7/cat720/r05/006/240129/

2023.10.13 　

MHLW released new pamphlets and circulars regarding "Rules clarifying working conditions" which will be revised from April 2024. 

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has recently updated the web page which introduces a set of materials and information related to the "indefinite-term conversion rules, clarification of working conditions on labor contract, etc.'' 

Particularly, the materials on the dedicated page "rules clarifying working conditions will be revised from April 2024" have been added and updated (published on October 12, 2023).

Here is the page;

<Rules for clarifying working conditions will change from April 2024>
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_32105.html <the pamphlet itself is in Japanese>

The following materials are to be reviewed as well:

<Pamphlet Are you prepared for changes to the rules clarifying working conditions from April 2024? ＞
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11200000/001156048.pdf <Japanese page>

<Regarding the enforcement of ministerial ordinances, etc. that partially amend the Labor Standards Act Enforcement Regulations and the Special Measures Act Enforcement Regulations regarding improvement of the settings of working hours, etc.>
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11200000/001156120 .pdf <Japanese page>

On top of these, as stated in the above notice, "Model Notice of Employment" (applicable from April 1, 2024) that corresponds to this amendment is also introduced. Check the URL underneath.. 

<Model Notice of Employment (for regular workers: indefinite-term and fixed-term workers)>
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11200000/001156118.pdf <Japanese page>

2023.9.30 

On September 27th 2023, the headquarters for building social security for all generations held a rotating meeting, and they announced the "annual income barrier and support enhancement package'' on the same day.

<Summary of “Annual Income Barrier/Support Enhancement Package”>

As an immediate response, the government will take the following measures.

(1) Responding to 1.06M yen barrier

Establishment of new career-up subsidy course [course for improving treatment when applying for social insurance]

Exclusion of social insurance application promotion allowance from standard remuneration calculation 

⑵ Responding to 1.3M yen barrier

Facilitation of dependent certification based on employer's certification

The government will loosen the dependent certification in the case of dependents' temporal income increase by extended working hours, allowing them to submit their employer's certificate.

(3) Responding to spousal allowance

Promoting reviews of corporate spousal allowances

The government announced that it will promote these initiatives and support the creation of an environment where people can work without worrying about annual income barriers.

< Addressing the so-called “annual income barrier”>

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/taiou_001_00002.html

2022.12.24  

Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Application Guidance for Foreign Workers

＜See Detais  Here>

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/new-info/kobetu/roudou/gyousei/rousai/gaikoku-pamphlet.html

2021.10.29 

Employment rererrals as of September 2021

MHLW announced the Employment referrals as of September 2021.

＜See Detais  Here>

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/database/db-l/g_workers_sep2021.html

2021.7.27 Provisional Report of Monthly Labour Survey

MHLW announced the Provisional Report of Monthly Labour Survey on May 2021.

＜See Detais Here＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/database/db-l/r03/2105re/2105re.html2021.６.８ Provisional Report of Monthly Labour Survey

MHLW announced the Provisional Report of Monthly Labour Survey.

＜See Detais Here＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/database/db-l/r03/2104pe/2104pe.html2021.5.21 Pamphlet for foreign workers by Aichi Prefectural Government

Aichi Prefectural government has released pamphlets for  foreign workers, introducing labor rules in Japan  in an understable way in each language.

https://www.pref.aichi.jp/soshiki/rodofukushi/0000060502.html

2021.5.20 Provisional Report of Monthly Labour Survey

MHLW announced the Provisional Report of Monthly Labour Survey.

＜See Detais Here＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/database/db-l/r03/2103pe/2103pe.html

2021.5.1 Employment rererrals as of March 2021

MHLW announced the Employment referrals as of March 2021.

＜See Detais Here＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/database/db-l/g_workers_mar2021.html2021.4.30 The support fund and allowance for the leave forced to be taken                          under the COVID-19 outbreak

MHLW Prefectual Labour Bureaus have announced the leaflet regarding the support fund's eligibility and its application.

＜See Detais Here＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11600000/000648770.pdf

2021.4.15 MHLW has released textbooks and audiovisual materials (videos) for                    safety and hygiene education by indutsry.

<See Deails Here>

https://anzenvideo.mhlw.go.jp/foreign-worker/kyozai.html#common

2020.8.1  ”To those who have left their jobs” by Aichi Labour Bureau

Aichi Labor Bureau has released the revised brochure in accordance with the revision of the employment insurance act regarding the job applicant benefit covered under the employment insurance.

＜See Detais Here＞

https://jsite.mhlw.go.jp/aichi-roudoukyoku/content/contents/000692720.pdf

2020.4  ”The Industrial accident compensataion                                                                    insurance application guidance” for foreign workers” by MHLW

MHLW has revised the industrial accident compensation insurance application guidance for foreign workers. 

＜See Detais Here＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/new-info/kobetu/roudou/gyousei/kantoku/dl/161108-02.pdf

2020.3  MHLW has released Manga version of educational materials by industry             entitled  "Learn Through Manga- Health,Safety, and Injury Prevention                 for Workers"           

＜General＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11300000/01_kyoutu_01English.pdf

＜Nursing Care Industry＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11300000/02_nursing_01English.pdf

＜Building Cleaning Industry＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11300000/03_building_cleaning_01English.pdf

＜Three fields of Manufacturing Industry＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11300000/04_METI_01English.pdf

＜Automobile Maintenance Industry＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11300000/05_Car_01English.pdf

＜Airplane Industry＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11300000/06_airplanes_01English.pdf

＜Lodging Industry＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11300000/08_hotels_01English.pdf

＜Food and Beverage Manufacturing Industry＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11300000/09_foods_01English.pdf

＜Food Service Industry＞

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11300000/10_restaurant_01English.pdf

Outline of the “Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts to Promote Work Style Reform” (Act No. 71 of 2018) 

<See Details Here>

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/employ-labour/labour-standards/dl/201904kizyun.pdf

Brief Job Stress Qestionaire in English (57 Items)

This survey form is recommended by MHLW in implementing stress-check test mandated for companies over 50 employees. 

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/roudoukijun/anzeneisei12/dl/stress-check_e.pdf