Labor Law & Employment
Latest news and updates on labor law & employment for expats in Japan
Kawai Musical Instruments Sanctioned for Underpaying Freelance Teachers
Kawai Musical Instruments received official sanctions from Japan's Fair Trade Commission for underpaying freelance music teachers for trial lessons, v...
Japan's Spring Wage Negotiations Deliver 5.46% Raises, Highest in 33 Years
Major Japanese companies agreed to 5.46% wage increases in 2026 spring negotiations, the highest since 1991. Monthly wages rose by average 19,964 yen,...
Japan's Discretionary Work System Expansion Faces Strong Union Opposition
Japan's government plans to expand the discretionary work system, which exempts workers from overtime pay, despite strong opposition from Rengo union....
Japan Introduces Shift System for Surgeons Under Work Reform Initiative
Japanese hospitals now allow surgeons to hand over operations mid-procedure under new work-hour reforms. The shift system aims to reduce physician ove...
Tokushima University Cited for Paid Leave Violations Amid Labor Reform Talks
Tokushima University received a labor violation notice for paid leave practices, while Japan's labor minister announced reviews of working time system...
Japan Launches New Support Program for Employment Ice Age Generation
Japan's government has launched a new support program for the "employment ice age generation" (born 1970-1984), focusing on improving working conditio...
New Employee Salaries Surge While Existing Workers Face Widening Pay Gap
Starting salaries in Japan are rising sharply, with some companies offering up to 400,000 yen monthly to new hires. This creates pay gaps with existin...
Japan's New Workplace Safety Rules for Older Workers Start April 2025
From April 2025, Japanese employers must make efforts to prevent workplace injuries among workers aged 60+, including workplace modifications and heal...
Retirement Service Scandal Exposes Legal Violations Affecting Workers
Executives from retirement service Moomuri were arrested for illegal lawyer kickback schemes, with two lawyers referred to prosecutors. The case highl...
Retirement Service Scandal Exposes Legal Gray Zones in Japan's Gig Economy
Tokyo police arrested executives from retirement proxy service Momuri for illegally referring clients to lawyers for compensation. Two lawyers also fa...
Retirement Agency Scandal Exposes Labor Rights Gaps Amid Spring Wage Talks
Executives from retirement agency Momuri arrested for illegal referral fees, exposing regulatory gaps. Meanwhile, Japan's spring wage negotiations emp...
97% of Major Japanese Companies Plan Wage Increases Amid Labor Crunch
97% of major Japanese companies plan wage increases in 2026 spring negotiations, driven by labor shortages and inflation. Small businesses face challe...
Japan's 2026 Spring Wage Negotiations Show Mixed Signals Amid Economic Uncertainty
Japan's 2026 spring wage talks show divergence: automotive unions moderate demands amid trade tensions while JR Tokai seeks record 13,000 yen monthly ...
Spring Wage Negotiations Begin Amid Economic Uncertainty in Japan
Japan's spring wage negotiations began January 27, with unions demanding record increases of 18,000 yen monthly. Economic uncertainty from trade tensi...
Winter Bonuses Hit Record High: What Japan's Corporate Payouts Mean for Workers
Winter bonuses at major Japanese companies reached a record ¥957,184 average, marking the second consecutive year of record highs. Foreign workers sho...
Major Japanese Insurer Announces 6.5% Wage Increase Ahead of 2025 Negotiations
Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance announces 6.5% average wage increase for sales staff from April 2025, signaling favorable trends for Japan's spring labor ...
New Labor Laws Strengthen Wage Protection for SME Workers in Japan
New SME protection law prohibits unfair pricing by large corporations, potentially enabling wage increases. Employee leave rights remain complex, with...
Workplace Safety Crisis and Declining Union Power in Japan
Kanagawa Prefecture recorded its highest workplace injuries in 30 years while Japan's union membership hit a record low of 16%, creating challenges fo...
Japan's Job Market Holds Steady as Recruitment Reform Looms for 2029
Japan's November job market remained stable with 1.18 jobs per applicant and 2.6% unemployment. The government confirmed plans to reform rigid recruit...
Japan's Labor Crisis: Caregiver Burnout and Workplace Violations Exposed
Recent government data reveals 129 elderly deaths from caregiver exhaustion over ten years, Hello Work employment fraud, and the tenth anniversary of ...