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:
- Agreement reached to eliminate gender gap in survivors’ pensions; workers’ compensation insurance to be revised, agriculture, forestry and fisheries to become compulsory coverage
- Foreign worker acceptance to have upper limit of 1.23 million by end of fiscal 2028; “training and employment” replacing technical intern training expected to account for 420,000
- Labour regulations, interim report expected next month; government begins discussions on deregulation
- Housing and family allowances for non-regular workers too; draft report to address wage disparities – Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare council
- Fiscal 2026 budget draft decided at record high 122 trillion yen; 31 trillion yen for national debt servicing
- Labour Standards Act amendment, “not considering” submitting to next ordinary Diet session – Minister Ueno
- “Regarding Proper Operation of the Fiscal Year Appointment Non-permanent Staff System (Notice)” December 25, 2025, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
- Supermarket “Ropia” had suppliers dispatch workers without compensation; to pay over 400 million yen
- Over one-third of companies allow work until age 70; continued employment and other systems introduced – Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- One in three teachers underreports working hours, teachers’ union survey
- “Overview of the 2025 Comprehensive Survey of Working Conditions” December 19, 2025, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- Mie Prefecture considers discontinuing hiring of prefectural employees with foreign nationality from next fiscal year
- Hiring of foreign nationals “will not change” – Shiga Governor announces maintaining abolition of nationality requirements
- Labour union organization rate estimated at 16.0%, lowest ever for fourth consecutive year – Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare survey
- Food price increases in 2025 exceed 20,000 items; confectionery up maximum 18% due to soaring cocoa beans
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology survey on researchers’ “non-renewal of contract”: 10% of contracts terminated just before the 10-year limit for fixed-term employment