Regulations on working time in Japan

Japan is one of the countries with very strict regulations on the regime for workers. The working hours are also clearly defined.

Working time for Japanese workers

For Japanese workers, the Government stipulates as follows:

Working hours of employees are 8 hours/day, 40 hours a week. However, with the spirit of always dedicating to the unit in which they work, many Japanese workers are willing to work beyond the hours prescribed by the state.

According to the results of a survey on working hours in Japan, 1 in 4 companies will admit their employees work up to 80 hours/month, more than double the prescribed number of hours.

However, there is a worrying situation in Japan that is because so many people die due to overwork and high pressure, so the Japanese government has encouraged businesses to reduce the working hours of employees to less than 50. hours/month to prevent this situation.

Working time for foreign workers in Japan

Not only Japanese workers have regulations on working time, foreign workers in Japan are also given clear regulations by the Government.

Regulations on normal working hours

Working time is 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. 

The enterprise owner has the right to prescribe working hours, days or weeks; in the case of a week, the normal working time shall not exceed 10 hours in a day, but not more than 40 hours in a week.

Depending on the work situation, the company is entitled to rest on weekdays and ask employees to work on weekends. In addition, a year the maximum total working hours is 2087 hours, if the labor export company arranges work for employees to work in this time frame, the company will not have to pay overtime. Regulations on night work

Night work hours are calculated from 10 pm to 6 am the next day.

 Regulation of overtime hours

The overtime working time of an employee must not exceed 50% of the normal working time of the day. Total working time includes normal working hours and overtime hours up to 12 hours/day for both weekdays and holidays.

Employees are not allowed to work overtime for more than 45 hours in a month and 360 hours in a year.

If the employee works more than 8 hours/day and works on a holiday, the salary received must increase by at least 25% and not exceed 50% of the basic salary.

Break time between working hours 

Not only regulations on working time, but the Japanese Government also sets regulations on breaks for employees. According to the law:

According to article 32, article 40 of the Standard Labor Law, Japanese employers are not allowed to work more than 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week (in some specific occupations, it is not allowed to work more than 44 hours a day). weeks) (according to articles 32 and 40 of the Standard Labor Law). 

Article 35 of the Standard Labor Law stipulates that the employer must give the Employee at least one day off a week, or 4 days in a 4 week period (article 35 of the Standard Labor Law).

For working hours outside the above time, it will be counted as overtime and the salary is calculated at the rate of 25% or more of the normal working time during weekdays. 

Working time in some special professions

In Japan, there are some special occupations that are seasonal or work-specific that can only be done in a certain time frame. The Japanese government allows businesses to apply the following specific adjustment of working time:

Specifically, the number of working hours in a year must not exceed 2800 hours, maximum 10 hours/day and not exceed 52 hours/week.

When an enterprise divides its plan into three-month periods, each period is for a maximum of three working weeks and the number of working hours per week must not exceed 48 hours per week.

In addition, according to the regulations of the Japanese Government, in 1 week, enterprises must arrange at least 1 day off for employees or 4 days for 4 working weeks.

To get this adjustment of working hours in Japan, businesses must complete the procedures and get approval from the competent authority on the adjustment of working time.

Other time periods are included in total working hours
During working time, employees sometimes need to participate in training activities, collective activities proposed by employers or unions. These periods will be considered valid working time and will not be deducted from time off or require workers to compensate for additional hours worked.

Specifically, those periods include:

• Breaks according to the nature of the work (lunch breaks, breaks between shifts);
• The period of work suspension is not due to the fault of the employee;
• Time to study and train on occupational safety and health;
• Meeting, study or training time at the request of the employer or agreed by the employer;
• Meeting, study and training time shall be convened by the superior trade union for part-time trade union officials in accordance with the law on trade unions.