Employment standards and laws

Foreign nationals residing in Japan are subject to employment related laws. To protect laborers, who are often in a weak position, the Labor Standards Law requires employers to comply with the following standards of employment. Those who do not do so will be penalized for breaking the law.

Excerpts from the Labor Standards Law

• Employers shall not engage in discriminatory treatment with respect to wages, working hours or other working conditions by reason of the nationality, religion, or social position of any worker.
• Employers shall not engage in discriminatory treatment of a woman as compared with a man with respect to wages by reason of the worker being a woman.
• Employers shall not force workers to work against their will by means of violence, intimidation, imprisonment, or any other unfair restraint on the mental or physical freedom of the workers.
• Employers shall not deduct from workers' wages unless permitted by law such as taxes and social pensions.
• Employers shall not have a worker work more than 40 hours a week, excluding rest periods. （However, overtime is permitted in some cases）
• Annual leave with pay must be granted in accordance with the law.
• Employers shall not employ children until the first March 31 following their having full reached the age of 15 years.