Labor Law & Employment
Latest news and updates on labor law & employment for expats in Japan
Japan Tackles Labor Crisis: Pay Raises and Overtime Reform in 2025
Japan announces major 2025 labor reforms: care workers get up to 19,000 yen monthly raises, medical staff receive 3.09% pay increases, and government ...
Japan's Evolving Workplace: Heat Safety Rules, Banking Wages, and AI Hiring
Japan strengthens mandatory heat stroke prevention after 12 workplace deaths, financial sector plans wage increases for 2025, and AI's influence on jo...
Japan Cracks Down on Heat Safety as Wages Rise and Senior Employment Grows
Japan issued 257 heat safety violations since June 2025 mandatory rules, while 34.8% of firms now employ workers to age 70. Uniqlo raised starting sal...
Disability Employment Hits Record High as Corporate Compliance Lags
Japan's disabled workforce exceeded 700,000 for the first time, but only 46% of companies meet legal employment quotas. New government guidelines also...
Japan Tackles Labor Shortages: Wage Push Continues, Teacher Rules Eased
Toyota unions continue pushing for wage increases amid inflation, while Japan cuts teaching license requirements by up to 50% to address severe teache...
Japan's Public Sector Faces Retention Crisis as Self-Defense Forces Get Pay Raise
Japan faces a public sector retention crisis with 25% of employees leaving within ten years. Parliament approved Self-Defense Force pay increases to a...
Japan's Labor Law Challenges: Freelance Protections and Overwork Persist
Japan Post allegedly violated the November 2023 Freelance Protection Act by failing to specify work conditions, while overwork culture persists despit...
Gig Workers Win Protections: Court Rules on Spot Work Cancellations
Tokyo court ordered restaurant to pay 6,800 yen to gig worker for canceled spot work shift, establishing that confirmed gig assignments create binding...
Japan Cracks Down on Labor Violations Affecting Freelancers and Workers
Japan's Fair Trade Commission identified 128 broadcasting and advertising companies violating freelance protection laws, while announcing stricter sub...
Japan Moves to Strengthen Dangerous Driving Laws with Clear Standards
Japan's Justice Ministry proposes numerical standards for dangerous driving laws, including a 0.5mg/L breath alcohol threshold. The reforms particular...
Japan's 2025 Spring Wage Negotiations Target Record Increases Amid Inflation
Major Japanese unions demand record wage increases for 2025, with JAM seeking 21,500 yen monthly raises and Kikan Roren requesting 15,000 yen increase...
Labor Market Strains: Welfare Applications Surge as Costs Rise for Students, Delivery Services
Japan faces mounting labor pressures with welfare applications hitting a 10-year high, major universities considering foreign student tuition hikes, a...
Non-Regular Workers Push for Wage Increases Amid Labor Law Concerns
Non-regular workers demand 10% wage increases for third consecutive year amid inflation concerns. Labor ministry investigates Hello Work staff miscond...
Japan's Largest Labor Union Demands 5% Pay Raise for Third Straight Year
Rengo demands 5% wage increases for 2025, marking three consecutive years of aggressive pay raise requests. The push comes amid stable unemployment bu...
Japan Strengthens Worker Protections Against Customer Harassment
Japan's labor ministry is finalizing mandatory guidelines requiring companies to protect workers from customer harassment. A recent court settlement a...
Japan Post Scandal Exposes Workplace Discipline Issues for Foreign Workers
Japan Post faces criticism for "punishment bicycle" discipline after employee was forced to deliver by bike in extreme heat following accident. The ca...
Japan's Labor Market Shifts: Toyota Reforms and Civil Service Pay Hikes
Toyota overhauls HR system for skilled workers with role-based pay, while government raises civil service starting salaries by 12,000 yen monthly, sig...
Japan's Workplace Reform Debate: Overtime Rules Under Scrutiny
Business federation proposes expanding work hours with employee consent, while bereaved families advocate for karoshi prevention. Foreign workers shou...
Japan's Spring Wage Negotiations and Work Reform Proposals for 2025
Major Japanese labor union UA Zensen demands 6-7% wage increases for 2025 spring negotiations, while business federation Keidanren proposes allowing v...
Gig Economy Worker Rights Under Scrutiny as Student Sues Over Cancelled Shift
A university student's lawsuit over a cancelled gig work shift highlights legal ambiguities in Japan's growing spot work industry, while employment da...