Section 4. Human Resource Management

4.6 Rules of Employment

Work rules are specific rules for the workplace containing working conditions such as working hours and wages, as well as rules that employees must comply with when working for business reasons. Employers with 10 or more regular employees must draw up the work rules and submit these to the local Labor Standards Inspection Office. Establishments with fewer than 10 workers are also encouraged to draw up work rules. Where work rules are established, they have the same legal force as labor contracts insofar as they are reasonable in content.

4.6.1 Items to be included in Rules of Employment

Work rules must at a minimum contain the following items.

  1. (1)

    Start and finish times, breaks, days off, leave of absence (including childcare and family care leave), and work shift arrangements where work is to be performed by two or more teams of workers.

  2. (2)

    Methods of determining, calculating and paying wages (excluding special bonuses and other pay), wage closing day of pay roll and pay day, as well as matters pertaining to wage raise.

  3. (3)

    Matters pertaining to resignation or dismissal (including grounds for dismissal).

Any arrangements established regarding the following matters must be included in the work rules:

  1. (4)

    Retirement allowances

  2. (5)

    Extraordinary wages, etc.

  3. (6)

    Responsibility for meal expenses, etc.

  4. (7)

    Safety and hygiene

  5. (8)

    Job training

  6. (9)

    Workers' accident compensation

  7. (10)

    Awards and disciplinary measures

  8. (11)

    Other matters

4.6.2 Obligation to inform

Employers are required to inform workers of the work rules or any labor-management agreements as provided for in the Labor Standards Act.

Section4: Table of Contents


Section4: Documents businesses are required to submit to authorities

Section Documents Where documents are listed within the URL The competent authorities and relevant web pages
4-3 Notice of EmploymentExternal site: a new window will open See "pdf" Ministry of Health, Labour and WelfareExternal site: a new window will open
4-5 Notification of Agreement on Overtime work Working on Holidays Ministry of Health,
Labour and WelfareExternal site: a new window will open
4-6 Rules of EmploymentExternal site: a new window will open See "The Model Rules of Employment" Ministry of Health,
Labour and WelfareExternal site: a new window will open
4-9 Notification of Acquisition of Employment Insurance Qualification Ministry of Health,
Labour and WelfarePDFファイル(外部サイトへ、新しいウィンドウで開きます)(3.2MB)
4-9 Application to Enroll in Employees' Health Insurance / Employees' Pension InsuranceExternal site: a new window will open See "Application form" Japan Pension ServicesExternal site: a new window will open
4-9 Labor insurance Estimated insurance premiums / Increased estimated insurance premiums / Final insurance premiums Declaration Ministry of Health,
Labour and WelfarePDFファイル(外部サイトへ、新しいウィンドウで開きます)(3.2MB)
4-9 Basic amount for calculation of monthly remuneration of person insured Health insurance Employees' pension insurance Japan Pension ServicesExternal site: a new window will open
4-9 Report of Dependents (change)External site: a new window will open See "Report form" under "Coverage of Your Dependents" section. Japan Pension ServicesExternal site: a new window will open
4-9 Notification of the Establishment of a Labor Insurance Relationship Ministry of Health, Labour and WelfarePDFファイル(外部サイトへ、新しいウィンドウで開きます)(3.2MB)
4-9 Notice of establishment of the business place to which employment insurance is applied Ministry of Health,
Labour and WelfarePDFファイル(外部サイトへ、新しいウィンドウで開きます)(3.2MB)
4-9 Application for Workplace CoverageExternal site: a new window will open See "Application form" Japan Pension ServicesExternal site: a new window will open
4-9 Declaration of Tax Exemption for Salaried Employees (Change)External site: a new window will open See the format National Tax AgencyExternal site: a new window will open
4-10 Income Tax Withholding Certificate National Tax AgencyExternal site: a new window will open

Materials listed as ‘Reference’ contain samples of documents regarding registration, visa, taxation, personnel and labor matters that are necessary when a foreign company establishes a corporation or other entity in Japan. These documents are not published by competent authorities and therefore are not official. For those who are going through the official procedures, please obtain the latest official documents from the competent authorities and related bodies or consult a person who specializes in advising on such information and procedures.

The information contained in this documents should be used at the reader’s independent discretion. While JETRO makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it provides, no responsibility is accepted by JETRO for any loss or damage incurred as a result of actions based on the information provided in these documents or provided by the external links listed on these pages.

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