Japan Relaxes Overtime Rules Under PM Takaichi

MGR Online•International•20d ago

Reader Briefing

Japan has relaxed overtime regulations to stimulate economic growth under the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

•Japan relaxed overtime rules starting Tuesday, September 1.
•The Labor Standards Inspection Office will stop pressuring businesses to limit overtime to 45 hours per month.
•The policy change follows a growth strategy introduced in July by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
•The move is criticized for returning to a culture of excessive work and increasing risks of Karoshi.

•Japan began relaxing overtime regulations on Tuesday, September 1, to stimulate economic growth.
•Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi introduced a growth strategy in July calling for a review of working hour supervision.
•The Ministry of Labor states approximately 40 percent of businesses in Japan operate under specific employer-employee agreements allowing up to 100 overtime hours per month.
•Some businesses requested flexible work patterns to handle severe labor shortages, particularly in construction, transport, and services.
•A Ministry of Labor official told AFP that exceeding overtime limits increases the risk of Karoshi, or death from overwork.
•Zenroren stated that the policy change is an unacceptable reversal of efforts to reduce working hours.
•The Ministry of Labor will continue to monitor companies and provide guidance if there is a high risk of health problems due to overwork.
•The current policy does not affect companies without specific employer-employee agreements, which must still limit overtime to 45 hours per month.

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Sanae Takaichi

"will work, work, work, work, and work"

จะทำงาน ทำงาน ทำงาน ทำงาน และทำงาน

Zenroren

"This is a change in direction and a cancellation of policies that encouraged companies to reduce working hours, which is unacceptable."

นี่เป็นการเปลี่ยนทิศทางและการยกเลิกนโยบายที่กระตุ้นให้บริษัทต่างๆ ลดชั่วโมงการทำงาน ซึ่งเป็นเรื่องที่ไม่อาจยอมรับได้

Sanae Takaichi(ซานาเอะ ทาคาอิจิ)ℹ️

The Prime Minister of Japan who describes herself as a workaholic.

Ministry of Labor(กระทรวงแรงงาน)ℹ️

The government body overseeing labor regulations and monitoring employee welfare in Japan.

Labor Standards Inspection Office(สำนักงานตรวจสอบมาตรฐานแรงงาน)

The office that will no longer pressure businesses regarding the 45-hour overtime limit.

Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry(หอการค้าและอุตสาหกรรมแห่งประเทศญี่ปุ่น)

The organization that conducted a survey in May finding that overtime pressure limited activities of 20 percent of SMEs.

A giant advertising company where a 24-year-old employee committed suicide in 2015 due to overwork.

Zenroren(เซนโรเรน)ℹ️

The National Confederation of Trade Unions in Tokyo.

AFP

The news agency that interviewed a Ministry of Labor official.

The platform, formerly Twitter, where Sanae Takaichi posted about her sleep habits.

Japan(ญี่ปุ่น)ℹ️

The country implementing the relaxation of overtime regulations.

Tokyo(โตเกียว)ℹ️

The city where Zenroren is located.