The Labor Standards Act (LSA) includes a deemed working time system for discretionary work under which the working hours of employees engaged in certain duties can be predetermined rather than calculated on the basis of their actual working time. The Ordinance for Enforcement of the Labor Standards Act and a government notification detail the scope of the duties to which the Discretionary Work System can be applied and the relevant procedures.

The Labor Standards Act requires employers to provide clear notice of certain terms of employment set forth under the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Labor Standards Act (“LSA Ordinance”). An amendment to the LSA Ordinance will become effective on 1 April 2024 changing the terms covered by this notification requirement.

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) raises challenging issues for employers in Japan. Now is the time for employers to revisit their health and safety protocols and install procedures to minimize the risk of the outbreak affecting their staff, while at work or travelling for work. The following alert…