Working conditions such as wages, working hours, etc. may be changed by agreement between the company and the worker. Although the company may not change the working conditions in principle in a manner disadvantageous to the worker by changing the rules of employment, if the change to the rules of employment is reasonable in light of the extent of the disadvantage to be incurred by the worker, the need for changing the working conditions, the appropriateness of the contents of the changed rules of employment, the status of negotiations with a labor union or the like, or any other circumstances pertaining to the change to the rules of employment, the […]

When hiring workers, companies enter into labor contracts with each worker. At that time, the employer must notify the employees in writing of the following employment conditions. Any part of a labor contract that does not meet the standards laid down by law is invalid. For example, a contract containing provisions such as “the company may dismiss the worker at any time for any reason,” “the basic wage shall include all overtime pay,” and “social insurance fees shall be borne entirely by the worker” (in the case of a business establishment covered by social insurance) is invalid insofar as these provisions are concerned. It is also illegal to impose a […]

Japan has a number of laws pertaining to labor and the protection of workers. These include: the Labor Standards Law which sets forth the minimum standards on working conditions; the Industrial Safety and Health Law which sets forth the minimum standards on working conditions regarding health and safety; and the Minimum Wage Law. These laws apply in principle to all enterprises in Japan, regardless of whether the employer is Japanese or foreign, or the company is a foreign or Japanese-registered corporation. They also apply to foreign workers in Japan provided that the foreign workers meet the definition of workers under these laws. Japan has a government-run employment agency known as […]