March 8, 2025 was International Women’s Day. Japan consistently ranks low on global gender equality scales. There are historical and cultural reasons that have made progress slow; however, the situation is improving thanks to Japan’s recent workplace female and general equality initiatives spearheaded by the government and big employers.
Examples of Recent Workplace Initiatives
- Proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Labor Measures Promotion Act
- Revisions to, and promotion of the Shokubarabo comparitive website
1. Proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Labor Measures Promotion Act
On March 11, the government directed the Cabinet to amend part of the law on the comprehensive promotion of labor measures and the stability of workers’ employment and the enhancement of professional life, and submitted it to the Diet.
The purpose of the revision is stated as: necessary: in order to improve a working environment where diverse workers can play an active role, we will take measures such as strengthening measures against harassment, promoting women’s activity, including extending the expiration date of the Women’s Activity Promotion Act, and promoting support for treatment and work balance.
Overview of the revision
1. Strengthening countermeasures against harassment [Comprehensive Promotion of Labor Measures Act, Equal Employment Opportunity for Men and Women Act]
(1) In order to prevent customer harassment, employers are required to take necessary measures for employment management, etc.
(2) In order to prevent sexual harassment of job seekers, etc., the employer is required to take necessary measures for employment management, etc.
(3) National responsibility to carry out awareness activities about harassment in the workplace
2. Promotion of women’s activities [Women’s activities promotion law]
(1) Expansion of employers subject to information disclosure on gender wage differences and the ratio of female management positions
(2) Extension of the validity period of the Women’s Active Promotion Act
(3) Adding “women’s health characteristics” to matters that should be noted when promoting women’s active participation
(4) Positioning harassment countermeasures as one of the items described in the basic policy for promoting women’s active participation formulated by the government
(5) Add to the certification requirements of Platinum Eruboshi that the contents of measures related to the prevention of sexual harassment for job seekers, etc. are announced
(6) Improving the efficiency of procedures related to the specific business owner action plan
3. Promotion of support for the balance of treatment and work [Comprehensive Labor Measures Promotion Act]
→ Imposed an obligation on employers to take the necessary measures to promote the balance of treatment and employment in the workplace, etc.
Key links:
- Summary [263KB]
- Outline of the draft law [35KB]
- Draft law and reasons [67KB]
- New and old comparative provisions of the draft law [198KB]
- Reference text [40KB]
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2. Revisions to, and promotion of the Shokubarabo comparitive website.
On February 27, the “Shokubarabo” site, operated by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (click to visit the Japanese site) was renewed. The MHWL states that: Shokubarabo” is a website that allows you to search and compare workplace information, such as overtime hours (overtime hours), paid leave acquisition rates, and average ages, for companies that actively pursue workplace improvement.
On this site, information about companies posted on three sites: “Youth Employment Promotion Comprehensive Site”, “Women’s Active Participation Promotion Company Database”, and “Compatibility Support Square”, and the main items are as follows.
Comprehensive site for promoting youth employment
・Situation related to recruitment and recruitment
・States related to the development and improvement of professional ability
・Situation regarding the promotion of retention in the workplace
Database of companies that promote women’s activities
“Publication of information” based on the Women’s Active Promotion Act
・Wage differences between men and women (all workers, regular workers, non-regular workers)
・More than 1 item from the performance of providing opportunities for professional life for female workers
・One or more items from the achievements of developing an employment environment that contributes to the balance of professional and family life
Announcement of achievements related to certification standards for companies certified by Eruboshi and Platinum Eruboshi. “Eruboshi” (meaning “labor star”) is a Japanese certification system recognizing companies that promote women’s participation and advancement in the workplace, while “Platinum Eruboshi” is a higher-level certification awarded to companies that have already achieved Eruboshi certification and meet additional, more stringent criteria
・Recruitment
・Continuing employment
・How to work, such as working hours
・Management ratio
・Diverse career courses
Employer compatibility support
・General business owner action plan
・States of acquisition of childcare leave, etc.
・Our company’s efforts to support both
Recruitment information
・Mid-career recruitment ratio
・Retention rate of mid-career recruitment and experienced recruitment
・Whether or not social insurance (welfare pension insurance and health insurance) is applicable
・Whether or not social insurance coverage for short-time workers
Information about the actual work situation (basic information)
・36 Upper limit of the agreement (including special clauses)
・Telework system
・Side job・part-time job
・Full-time employee conversion system
・Retirement age system
Capability development
・Qualifications that can be obtained
・Onboarding system and follow-up system
n top of them by bookmarking this page to see the updates, and then clicking through to the hyperlinked Verse articles and MHLW (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) source materials for greater detail. Bookmark this page for 2025 Labour & Social Welfare Updates.
Notes about Verse and our Articles.
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