A government building housing the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is seen in Tokyo’s Kasumigaseki district. (Mainichi/Kimi Takeuchi)
TOKYO — Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Oct. 21 instructed the labor minister to consider relaxing the upper limits on overtime work, sources close to the matter have revealed to the Mainichi Shimbun.
In a written directive to Labor Minister Kenichiro Ueno, Takaichi mentioned, “consideration of relaxing working hour regulations on the premise of maintaining physical and mental health and respecting employee choice.” Takaichi had campaigned for the October ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election with a similar promise.
The overtime caps with penalties were introduced in April 2019 as part of the work style reform promotion law. The current overtime limits are set in principle at 45 hours per month and 360 hours per year. Even during busy periods or under other special circumstances, overtime is capped at under 100 hours per month and an average of 80 hours or less over multiple months.
The directive also included measures to promote side jobs and raise the minimum wage. It explicitly stated, “Through efforts to establish rules that accommodate diverse working styles, we will create an environment where people can work with peace of mind.”
The work style reform law, formally the Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts to Promote Work Style Reform, is now due to be reviewed as five years have passed since its enforcement. In response to Takaichi’s directive, discussions on relaxing overtime regulations may progress, likely sparking concerns about setbacks in work style reforms.
(Japanese original by Aya Shiota, Lifestyle, Science & Environment News Department)
AloJapan.com