This bulletin contains information on law changes that have either passed, or are being discussed, in parliament, court decisions, and other labor issues in Japan that are of interest to activists.
In this bulletin:
- Basic pension enhancement: Leaders of ruling and opposition parties agree on bill revision, expected to pass current Diet session
- Government to consider measures to improve treatment of non-regular local government employees, to be included in “Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management”
- Chateraise referred to prosecutors for allegedly forcing factory employees to work illegal overtime – Kofu Labour Standards Office
- Part-time lecturer forms “union” and faces “contract termination and disciplinary action”? Tokyo Metropolitan Labour Relations Commission recognizes “unfair practices” by Tokyo College of Music
- Court orders compensation from Kagawa Prefecture for teacher’s overtime – Experts praise “first judgment”
- “Unfairly dismissed after whistleblowing” – Former contract employee sues Nissin Foods at Otsu District Court
- Global employment revised downward due to US tariffs, to 53 million in 2025 – ILO
- Regular workers reach approximately 37 million, highest in past 12 years
- OECD lowers global economic outlook – Trump tariffs hit US economy
- Welfare applications increase for fifth consecutive year – 259,000 cases in fiscal 2024 – Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- Rengo affiliates achieve 5.26% wage increase – Gap with small and medium enterprises
- Real wages down 1.8% in April, fourth consecutive month of decline – Rice and alcoholic beverages price increases
And more!