Ohara & Furukawa, Author at Ohara & Furukawa

February 23, 2016

Can men sue for gender discrimination under Japanese law?

The Equal Employment and Opportunity Act, which modified the Labor Standards Act, was a major step forward for women employed in Japan and the first Act to prohibit employers from discriminating against women in terms of mandatory retirement age, dismissal and access to benefits. However, the Labor Standards Act continued to be modified even after the Equal Employment and Opportunity Act, and later acts added protection for men (who were not originally protected from discrimination under the Labor Standards Act or Equal Employment Act) and banning discrimination in recruitment, assignment and promotion as well as any form of indirect discrimination.

February 23, 2016

Is delegating different jobs to men and women a form of gender discrimination?

Unfortunately, it is often the case that women and men are expected to perform different roles in the workplace in Japan. Therefore, men and women are usually assigned different tasks at work. The Act on Securing Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment seeks to remedy this discriminatory behavior.

February 23, 2016

Is it necessary to have an employee handbook?

Companies who have 10 or more employees should compile a handbook with all the company’s work rules and give every employee a copy. It should also be submitted to the local Labor Standards Inspection Office. Companies with less than 10 employees are not required to draft a copy of the work rules but are encouraged to do so.

February 23, 2016

What is the best way to hire employees in Japan?

Japan has a national work placement agency called “Hello Work.” Hello Work provides free help to job seekers as well as employers looking to fill positions and provides an essential service in matching these two needs.