This bulletin contains information on law changes that have either passed or are being discussed in parliament, court decisions, and other labour issues in Japan that are of interest to activists.
In this bulletin:
- Employers with unpaid wages for “Specified Skilled Worker” visa holders also barred from “Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services” visa – Dispatch site inspections to be strengthened
- Residence permit fees to rise, Immigration Control Act revision planned – Ministry of Finance’s intentions and anxiety among foreign residents in Japan
- JA Okinawa employee’s cerebral hemorrhage recognized as work-related injury caused by long working hours
- Settlement reached in lawsuit over “involuntary transfer leading to leave and dismissal” – dismissal reversed and 20 million yen settlement payment
- Curfew violations punished with written apologies – technical intern trainees at Makurazaki bonito flake factory claim “appalling” working conditions – approximately 1.4 million yen in damages ordered against union and company
- Hyogo Sanda City Hospital: 83 million yen in unpaid overtime – 41 section-chief-level employees to be paid in installments
- Over 100 after-school childcare workers refuse transfer to private company – “Different from what was promised” as allowances and benefits reduced
- Fukuoka court upholds claim of two re-employed teachers at Sugimori High School over “unjust reduction from five to three working days per week” – orders payment of salary difference
- Tokyo District Court recognizes depression of former Coca-Cola Japan division head as work-related injury
- Lawsuit over collective bargaining between a company and a union in Ginan-cho, Gifu Prefecture – both sides present their arguments
- Discussions begin on correcting delayed effective dates for minimum wage – excessive competition between neighboring prefectures to be curbed
- Over 90% of companies utilizing foreign workers – challenges also identified [Survey of 100 companies]
- Welfare assistance applications increase for sixth consecutive year in 2025
- Only 10.5% want to increase working hours – Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare releases comprehensive work style reform review
- Teacher shortage of 4,317 nationwide – affecting 2,828 schools, or 8% of all public schools
- ILO warns of risk that AI will widen gender gap in the workplace
- Gender wage gap more pronounced at large companies – differences in tenure and promotion
- Real wages in January up 1.4% – first increase in 13 months, driven by wage growth and slower price rises
- Only 60% of junior high school teachers have monthly overtime of 45 hours or less – Ministry of Education survey