The Japan HR Society (JHRS) HR-ON-THE-GO: Japan HR News Roundup (Sponsored by: Santa Fe Japan Relocation Services)

Japan's jobs-to-applicants ratio down slightly in October

JHRS — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 06:29:53 GMT

The latest data shows a tightening of Japan's labor market, with the ratio of job openings to seekers dropping slightly in October. One prefecture saw openings fall below the number of applicants for the first time since July 2022.

Source:https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japanese delegation briefs Yunus on recruitment plan of 100,000 worker over five years

JHRS — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:14:37 GMT

The 23-member delegation from the National Business Support Combined Cooperatives (NBCC) met Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday afternoon, the Chief Advisor’s Office (CAO) said in a statement.

NBCC, comprising over 65 companies, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the interim government.

Source: https://bdnews24.com

No. of foreign residents in Japan hits record high, surge in foreign labor

JHRS — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:10:10 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of legal foreign residents in Japan has topped 3.95 million, a new record, government data showed Friday, as the country accepts more foreign workers in the face of a severe labor shortage.

Source: https://mainichi.jp

Japan set to be most impacted by tourism labor shortages globally, report shows

JHRS — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:50:57 GMT

Japan is set to be the most impacted by global labor shortages in the tourism and service sector, with a 29% shortfall anticipated in the country in 2035, according to a new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan bankruptcies hit 12-yr-high in 1st half of FY2025 amid labor scarcity

JHRS — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:44:21 GMT

The number of corporate bankruptcies in Japan continued to rise in the first half of this fiscal year to over 5,100, the highest level in 12 years for the April-September period, as labor shortages and rising prices weighed on small businesses, a credit research company said Wednesday.

Source: https://www.msn.com

Japan Financial Firms Accelerate Hiring of Vietnamese IT Engineers

JHRS — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:13:59 GMT

Japanese financial institutions aiming to strengthen their IT services are stepping up hiring Vietnamese engineers being trained under initiatives led by their government. With Japan’s shortage of engineers becoming increasingly serious, Vietnam has become the focus of a new source of IT talent, following India. Some companies are even offering Vietnamese recruits the same pay as their Japanese counterparts. However, with strong interest also coming from U.S. tech companies, competition for talent is expected to intensify.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

7-Eleven robot trial targets labor shortages

JHRS — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 00:28:25 GMT

Japan's biggest convenience store chain has introduced robots on a trial basis in a bid to tackle labor shortages and streamline in-store work.

The trial began at a 7-Eleven outlet in Tokyo. A robot is being used to restock the store's drink and alcohol shelves. Artificial intelligence allows the machine to determine which products need to be restocked based on sales data.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan's real wage falls for sixth straight month in June

JHRS — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 19:14:20 GMT

TOKYO, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Japan's real wages fell in June for the sixth consecutive month as inflation continued to outpace pay growth, government data showed on Wednesday, raising concerns about consumption-led recovery in the world's fourth-largest economy.

Inflation-adjusted real wages, a key determinant of households' purchasing power, fell 1.3% in June from a year earlier, following a revised 2.6% drop in May.

Source:https://www.reuters.com

Police in most prefectures miss hiring targets

JHRS — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 18:11:23 GMT

The police departments in over 30 of Japan's 47 prefectures missed their hiring targets from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2023, sources said.

Many prefectural police departments make far more job offers than their planned hires but around 30% of the applicants given informal offers end up turning them down.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

2025 POLLS: Foreign Worker Policies in Spotlight

JHRS — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:44:38 GMT

Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Whether Japan should continue to accept more foreign workers or curb its foreign labor intake has become a key issue in the July 20 House of Councillors election amid concerns among the public over crimes and other incidents caused by some foreigners.

The number of foreign residents in the country topped 3.7 million by the end of last year, marking a record high, after the Japanese government increased admissions of foreign workers in response to severe labor shortages due to population decline.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japanese firms offer pay raises to retain staff amid labor crunch

JHRS — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:43:03 GMT

Some Japanese employers are offering higher pay and other financial rewards in a bid to retain staff amid a labor shortage and rising inflation. Nojima has decided to give two raises in basic pay a year beginning this fiscal period.

The major electric-appliance retailer says around 3,000 employees can expect a hike of 10,000 yen, or around 68 dollars, a month in September.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan's construction bottleneck hits $100bn as labor crunch deepens

JHRS — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 01:21:19 GMT

TOKYO -- Backlogs in factory and commercial building projects are piling up across Japan, with unfilled orders soaring to an all-time high of more than 15 trillion yen ($103 billion).

The construction slowdown, fueled by a chronic labor shortage, has intensified since last year, when new overtime limits further strained the sector's already thin workforce.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Japan to set up body to improve anime industry working conditions

JHRS — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 18:25:26 GMT

The industry ministry said Tuesday that it will set up a third-party organization to improve the working conditions of animation industry workers.

The move is part of a five-year action plan aimed at boosting overseas sales of Japanese content such as manga and video games to ¥20 trillion ($138 billion) in 2033.

Source https://www.japantimes.co.jp

7,000 Manufacturers Aim to Raise Wages for Foreign Workers with Specified Skilled Worker Status through New Association

JHRS — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 18:23:28 GMT

Thirty major industry associations in manufacturing sectors such as steel, electronics and textiles established a cross-industry human resources management organization to secure more highly skilled foreign workers to work in Japan.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

DMW sends off 218 Filipino health workers to Japan

JHRS — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 19:19:26 GMT

MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has sent off a total of 218 Filipino health workers bound for Japan.

In a news release Thursday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the deployment on Wednesday is proof of the growing strength of the two nations' relations, particularly in people-centered cooperation under the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA).

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph

98% of new graduates in Japan are able to land jobs

JHRS — Tue, 27 May 2025 20:25:19 GMT

The employment rate for March 2025 graduates of higher educational institutions stood at 98% as of April 1, the second highest on record, Japanese government data showed Friday.

The rate, only 0.1 percentage point shy of the current all-time high, marked a year earlier, tied with those for 2018 and 2020 graduates, according to the data, compiled jointly by the education and labor ministries.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Finances are tight for dual-income households too, survey finds

JHRS — Mon, 19 May 2025 20:24:16 GMT

Almost half of full-time workers whose spouses are working say they are struggling financially, according to a survey released Thursday by job-matching company Mynavi. Financial anxiety was more pronounced among households with children, whose average income was higher, at ¥9.01 million, but still fell short of the desired ¥12.47 million.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

JDI Eyeing Cutting Over 1,000 Jobs in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 19 May 2025 20:21:55 GMT

Tokyo, May 15 (Jiji Press)--Japan Display Inc., a struggling maker of small and midsize liquid crystal display panels, is considering cutting over 1,000 jobs in the country out of its domestic workforce of about 2,700, people familiar with the matter said Thursday.

The job cut is part of JDI’s restructuring efforts as the company posted a 10th consecutive year of net loss in the year ended in March 2024.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan’s hiring stays competitive as salaries and benefits fall short

JHRS — Mon, 19 May 2025 20:17:01 GMT

Hiring challenges persist in Japan as 87% of employers reported losing candidates in the past six months due to uncompetitive salaries and benefits, according to research from Morgan McKinley.

In 2024, 97% of organizations found recruitment to be ‘Very’ or ‘Quite’ competitive, with key barriers expected to continue into 2025. Employee satisfaction with benefits remains low, with 57% of professionals feeling neutral or dissatisfied with their current packages.

Source: https://www.staffingindustry.com

Japan's jobless rate in FY 2024 falls to 2.5% amid labor shortage

JHRS — Mon, 19 May 2025 20:14:52 GMT

TOKYO - Japan's average unemployment rate in fiscal 2024 fell 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier to 2.5 percent, marking the first improvement in two years, amid a labor shortage, government data showed Friday.

In the fiscal year through March, the number of unemployed people decreased 30,000 to 1.75 million and the number of those with jobs grew 370,000 to 67.93 million, the highest level since comparable data became available in 1953, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said.

Source : https://english.kyodonews.net

Disaster public housing complexes in Sendai work to boost interactions

JHRS — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 20:21:14 GMT

Fourteen years after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, disaster public housing complexes are seeing more residents who are older and people who weren’t hit by the disaster moving in.

Residents in such housing complexes in Sendai are working with volunteers to run a children’s cafeteria and organize other events to provide opportunities for people of different generations to strengthen ties within their community.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

University Students Fill Key Role in Teaching Japanese to Foreign Children, as Japan Welcomes More Workers from Abroad

JHRS — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 20:17:32 GMT

More and more university students are teaching children with foreign roots the Japanese language, and working to create places for them to feel comfortable.

Amid a shortage of teachers for Japanese as a second language, students studying Japanese language education at universities are working actively in the field, and putting what they have learned into practice.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Amid labor shortage, Japan approves guidelines to upskill foreign workers

JHRS — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:30:35 GMT

The government on Tuesday approved guidelines for a refurbished plan to support development of foreign workers into skilled workers, expected to kick off in 2027, in hope of resolving Japan’s chronic labor shortage.

The new initiative replaces the current foreign trainee program, which has often been criticized for bad working conditions and participants being used as cheap labor.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

About 30% of major Japanese companies using AI for recruiting, poll says

JHRS — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:24:25 GMT

About 30% of major Japanese companies have introduced or plan to introduce artificial intelligence in their employee recruitment activities, according to a survey by Jiji Press.

Of the 100 major companies surveyed, eight said that they will use AI to recruit students who will graduate in spring 2026, while 21 companies said they have already introduced AI.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Record 92.6 Pct of Graduating Students in Japan Secure Jobs

JHRS — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 03:52:41 GMT

Tokyo, March 14 (Jiji Press)--A government report showed Friday that a record 92.6 pct of job-seeking college students graduating in Japan this month had received informal employment offers as of Feb. 1.

Amid serious manpower shortages in the country, the job-securing rate rose 1 percentage point from a year earlier to the level unseen since comparable data were made available in 2000.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Job-hunting students continue to face sexual harassment in Japan

JHRS — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:54:59 GMT

TOKYO - Students interviewing for graduate jobs in Japan continue to be sexually harassed by recruiters, highlighting a failure of attempts to eradicate the problem and the power imbalance that endures despite companies' desperation to fill roles amid the country's labor shortage.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Foreign students in Japan struggle with language barriers, job access

JHRS — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 19:29:05 GMT

Foreign students in Japan have continued to face hurdles in securing employment, largely due to language barriers and the country’s unique hiring practices.

Despite an increase in the number of international students following the COVID-19 pandemic, many find navigating the job market difficult.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com

Japan’s Foreign Workers Hit New Record of 2.3 Million

JHRS — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:34:51 GMT

As of October 2024, foreign workers in Japan totaled 2.3 million, up 12.4% or around 250,000 year on year. The figure, announced by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare in January 2025, is the highest since 2008, when data was first compiled.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Seniors and Women Boost Japan’s Labor Force to Record High

JHRS — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 08:23:51 GMT

According to Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Labor Force Survey, the number of people employed in 2024 reached a record-high 67.8 million, an increase of 340,000 from the previous year. This is the highest figure recorded since 1953, when comparable data became available. The category is defined as including people aged 15 and older who are currently working or temporarily on leave from their jobs.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

No. of foreign workers in Japan hits new record of 2.3 million

JHRS — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 21:40:43 GMT

TOKYO - The number of foreign employees in Japan reached a record 2.3 million as of the end of last October, maintaining a growth rate of 12.4 percent, the same as the previous year, government data showed Friday, as the nation continues to attract labor despite the weak yen.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Job-hopping Japanese workers push salaries higher

JHRS — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 21:26:42 GMT

Job mobility in Japan has traditionally been low due to lifetime employment arrangements and strong labor laws. Even in recent years, as lifetime employment has been ending as a practice and as a preference, workers have been loath to jump ship.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan to ease financial burden of foreign trainees with new program

JHRS — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 16:17:38 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will work to ease the financial burden of foreign nationals coming to work in the country under a new government employment program, Nikkei has learned.

The program, dubbed Employment for Skill Development, limits fees paid by foreign workers to recruitment agencies in their home countries to two months of their salary in Japan.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Recruitment for nursing staff in Japan gets under way in Hyderabad

JHRS — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 10:55:58 GMT

TOMCOM is currently conducting interviews to select candidates for subsequent batches. BSc Nursing graduates, GNM diploma holders, ANM paramedics, pharmaceutical professionals, and candidates with an Intermediate qualification from recognized colleges, aged between 19 and 30 years, are eligible to apply for this program.

Source: https://telanganatoday.com

65% of Japan firms hire foreign workers to cover labor shortages

JHRS — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 10:50:42 GMT

TOKYO - Around 65 percent of companies in Japan employ foreign workers to resolve labor shortages, a government survey showed Thursday.

In the multiple response survey, 56.8 percent of companies said foreign workers are employed with the expectation that they will perform as well or better than Japanese staff, while 18.5 percent cited efforts to promote diversity, the labor ministry survey said.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Japan's real wages fall 0.3% in Nov., down for 4th straight month

JHRS — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 06:04:17 GMT

TOKYO - Japan's real wages fell 0.3 percent in November from a year earlier, marking the fourth consecutive monthly decline, as pay growth failed to keep pace with rising prices, government data showed Thursday.

Nominal wages, or the average total monthly cash earnings per worker including base and overtime pay, increased 3.0 percent to 305,832 yen ($1,900), rising for the 35th straight month, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Japan's new workforce prioritises work-life balance, decline in 'Karoshi'

JHRS — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 06:02:39 GMT

For years, Japan’s work culture has been defined by long hours, relentless pressure, and the toll it takes on workers’ well-being. But now, a shift is taking place that could change the course of Japan’s workforce forever.

According to a report by the South China Morning Post, a new generation of Japanese workers is opting for shorter hours, and in doing so, they are hoping that the tragic phenomenon of ‘karoshi’ — deaths caused by overwork — could finally be on the decline.

Source: https://www.business-standard.com

Japanese firms hire foreigners to address labour shortages

JHRS — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 19:23:39 GMT

In the multiple-response survey, 56.8 % of companies said foreign workers were employed with the expectation that they will perform as well or better than Japanese staff, while 18.5 % pointed to efforts to promote diversity, according to the labour ministry survey released earlier this week.

The survey of companies with foreign workers that have five or more employees, conducted in October and November 2023, received responses from 3,534 businesses and 11,629 workers, the report said.

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com

Mind the labor gap: Worker crunch piles pressure on small-town Japan

JHRS — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 17:09:34 GMT

INO, Kochi Prefecture--Over the last decade, Masato Shiota brought his papermaking business back from the brink, paying down debt and buying machinery to automate some production. But he struggles to find workers to keep output at full capacity.

Source: https://www.asahi.com

Facing Labor Crisis, Japan Hopes for Indonesian Workers' Assistance

JHRS — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 05:06:55 GMT

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC) admitted that it really hopes for help from workers from neighboring countries, including Indonesia, in overcoming the labor crisis in the country.

"The elderly in Japan are more numerous than the young, which means that there are very few young workers, so we really hope for help from manpower from neighboring countries in particular, one of which is Indonesia," said JAC project head Naoya Shikano, in Jakarta, Wednesday to Antara.

Source: https://en.tempo.co

Tokyo government to introduce four-day workweek for its employees

JHRS — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 05:05:15 GMT

The Tokyo government plans to introduce a four-day workweek for its employees in an attempt to support young families and boost record-low fertility rates nationwide.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike announced that starting in April, employees of the metropolitan government will have the option to take three days off each week.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com

Japan labor ministry to mandate companies to disclose ratio of female managers

JHRS — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:31:19 GMT

Japan's labor ministry has proposed mandating companies with at least 101 workers to disclose the ratio of women in managerial posts.

A ministry survey in the fiscal year that ended in March showed that women accounted for 12.7 percent of those at the level of section chief or higher. That is low by international standards.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan to hold 1st memorial for Korean forced labor victims at Sado mine

JHRS — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 01:23:06 GMT

The first official memorial ceremony honoring Korean victims of forced labor at the gold mines on Sado Island during Japan's colonial rule from 1910 to 1945 will be held in Sado on Sunday, attended by South Korean and Japanese government officials and bereaved families of the victims.

Source: https://news.koreaherald.com

Japan to ban employees from working for 14 consecutive days

JHRS — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:20:05 GMT

Japan's health ministry is planning to ban employees from working for 14 consecutive days or more, a move aimed at improving workers' mental health and tackling the nation’s infamous overwork problem.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Vietnamese woman arrested for illegal employment of staff at five bars in Tokyo

JHRS — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:16:55 GMT

An employee who submitted a fake residency card told the police she had studied at a Japanese-language school, but was dismissed because she could not pay the tuition. She added she wanted to earn money to send to her family.

Investigators suspect the five bars have earned sales of more than 400 million yen, or about 2.6 million dollars, since 2019.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan to share entry costs, ease job-changing restrictions for Vietnamese workers

JHRS — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:14:35 GMT

Japan is set to reduce entry costs and ease restrictions for Vietnamese workers under a new initiative, enabling shared departure expenses and more flexible job transfers to enhance migrant work conditions.

Source: https://e.vnexpress.net

Workers in Japan can’t quit their jobs. They hire resignation experts to help

JHRS — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:01:12 GMT

TokyoCNN — Yuki Watanabe used to spend 12 hours every day toiling away in the office. And that’s considered a short day.

A typical 9-to-9 workday is the bare minimum. “The latest I would leave [the office] would be 11 p.m.,” said the 24-year-old, who used to work for some of Japan’s largest telecoms and e-payment companies.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com

One in 6 workers in Japan use resignation agencies to change jobs

JHRS — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:56:22 GMT

In Japan, 1 in 6 workers used resignation agencies to change their jobs in the year through June, employment information provider Mynavi said in a survey report Thursday.

The survey showed that 16.6% of respondents who changed their jobs used such agencies, which perform resignation procedures on their behalf.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan mulls mandatory anti-harassment steps for job-hunting students

JHRS — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:53:32 GMT

TOKYO - Japan's labor ministry is considering making it mandatory for companies to take measures to prevent sexual harassment toward students searching for jobs, a source close to the matter said Tuesday.

Possible measures include establishing rules for interviews between students and company officials, as well as creating an inquiry counter for harassment cases. The government aims to submit a bill during next year's ordinary Diet session to amend related laws.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Japan Labor Shortage Seen Expanding to 3.84 M. Workers in 2035

JHRS — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 17:29:23 GMT

Tokyo, Oct. 17 (Jiji Press)--Japan's labor shortage will reach 17.75 million hours per day in 2035, equivalent to 3.84 million workers, an estimate by Persol Research and Consulting Co. and Chuo University showed on Thursday.

The labor shortage is estimated to expand 1.85-fold from 2023, reflecting a decline in working hours per person as a result of work style reform and other initiatives, despite an increase in the number of workers.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan records highest number of bankruptcies in a decade as costs rise

JHRS — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 16:14:23 GMT

Japan saw the highest number of bankruptcies since 2013 in the six months through September, as companies were increasingly hit by rising costs.

Some 4,990 firms went bankrupt in that period, increasing 18.6% from the previous year, according to a report by Teikoku Databank on Tuesday. The number of firms going under in Japan has continued to increase since the second half of the year ending March 2022.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Bank Of Japan’s Job Just Got Even Harder

JHRS — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 15:36:35 GMT

The latest indicator of that is industrial production, which disappointed investors considerably in August. The 3.3% drop from the previous month was much deeper than feared. Production is now more than 10% below 2017 and 2018, before the Covid-19 pandemic. Nor do business forecasts going forward offer much optimism.

Source: https://www.forbes.com

Some Local Govts in Japan Let Staff Bring Kids to Work; Helping Parents in a Pinch Helps Retain Good Personnel

JHRS — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 23:40:09 GMT

More and more local governments are allowing employees who cannot find places to care for their children to bring them to the workplace so that they can work while watching over their children.

The aim is to secure good talent by helping employees achieve a balance between childcare and work. At the same time, such governments are seeking ways to prevent the system from affecting work operations.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Japan Needs Foreign Workers. It’s Just Not Sure It Wants Them to Stay.

JHRS — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:42:54 GMT

Ngu Thazin wanted to leave her war-torn country for a better future. She set her sights on Japan.

In Myanmar, she studied Japanese and graduated with a chemistry degree from one of her country’s most prestigious universities. Yet she gladly took a job in Japan changing diapers and bathing residents at a nursing home in a midsize city.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com

In Japan, Turning the Tables on Rude Customers

JHRS — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:33:27 GMT

The guests arrived 30 minutes before check-in time at a traditional hot springs inn a couple of hours north of Tokyo. When they saw a sign asking that customers wait in their cars, they demanded to know why they could not get their room key early.

The exchange, captured on a security camera, quickly exploded into angry shouting. Eventually it ended on the pavement out front — with the inn’s managing director down on his knees, bowing deeply and apologizing.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com

25,000 jobs in Japan available for Filipinos

JHRS — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:30:43 GMT

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 25,000 jobs are up for grabs for Filipinos aspiring to work in Japan, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced over the weekend.

The DMW said a job fair would be held at Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas, Quezon City on Aug. 1 as part of the Philippines - Japan Friendship Week.

Source: https://www.msn.com

Japan job availability lowest in 27 months amid rising costs

JHRS — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:27:33 GMT

TOKYO- Japan's job availability rate in June fell 0.01 point from the previous month to 1.23, marking its lowest level in 27 months, as rising costs limited recruitment, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare data showed Tuesday.

The monthly figure indicates there were 123 jobs available for every 100 job seekers. It is the third consecutive month of decline.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Japan's self-defence forces struggle amid severe recruitment crisis

JHRS — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 14:07:59 GMT

The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) are grappling with a severe problem: a chronic shortage of personnel, reports Nikkei Asia. Last year, the number of new recruits joining the JSDF was barely more than half the planned number, the worst result in history.
Source: https://www.msn.com

Japan labor shortage triggers surge in bankruptcies

JHRS — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 13:46:14 GMT

Many business owners in Japan are struggling to find enough workers to stay afloat. The number declaring bankruptcy as a result was at a record high in the first half of this year.

Private research firm Teikoku Databank says Japan's labor shortage drove 182 companies to the wall between January and June. The number was up by 72 from a year earlier. It's the highest figure since the firm started keeping track.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan faces shortage of almost a million foreign workers in 2040

JHRS — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 13:39:29 GMT

Japan faces a shortage of almost 1 million foreign workers in 2040 if the government wants to achieve its economic growth goals as the population dwindles, an estimate from a state-backed think tank showed on Thursday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Pay rises in Japan, but real wages fall for 26th month

JHRS — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 13:36:04 GMT

Workers in Japan saw their cash earnings rise again in May, but real wages fell for the 26th month in a row as price hikes continued to outweigh nominal pay increases.

The labor ministry says inflation-adjusted wages were down 1.4 percent from a year earlier. That marked the longest period of decline since comparable data became available in 1991.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan’s new scheme for foreign workers poses fresh challenges

JHRS — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:25:13 GMT

The recently implemented amendments by Japan's National Diet have introduced a new "training and employment" system. Though a significant step towards refining the country's asylum process, it has also raised various concerns, particularly in remote regions like Gunma prefecture, which has historically had the highest number of foreign immigrants working in various heavy factories.

Source: https://www.ucanews.com

Job Availability Ratio Falls to 1.24

JHRS — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:15:06 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Japan’s seasonally adjusted ratio of effective job openings to seekers in May fell 0.02 point from the previous month to 1.24, the labor ministry said Friday.

The ratio continued to drop because the number of job seekers increased as many faced higher costs of living due to persisting inflation.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Tokyo: New law, more flexibility for foreign workers

JHRS — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:43:29 GMT

Tokyo (AsiaNews) - Following the expansion of the status of "specific qualified worker" last 29 March to four additional areas of the world, which allowed over 800,000 new workers access to the employment programme, yesterday Japan's National Diet approved a new law that guarantees greater flexibility and longer stays for migrants wishing to find employment in the Japanese country.

Source: https://www.asianews.it

Record 1,097 cases recognized as work-related injuries in Japan

JHRS — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:41:34 GMT

The latest figures, released June 28 by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, also revealed that power and sexual harassment remain serious problems in the workplace. This was borne out by an increase of 173 in cases involving mental disorders related to such situations.

Source: https://www.asahi.com

Japan's new foreign worker program sets off scramble for talent

JHRS — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:11:02 GMT

TOKYO -- As Japan moves to a new foreign worker training program that provides more flexibility in changing jobs, regions outside metropolitan areas are sweetening their offers and bolstering support in a bid to attract talent.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Japan to allow foreign workers to change employers with new law: reports

JHRS — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:05:22 GMT

Japan's Parliament has passed a new foreign worker scheme that will allow employees to transfer workplaces under certain conditions, according to reports.

The new programme will allow foreign employees to transfer workplaces if they have worked in one place for over a year, and if their Japanese language and professional abilities meet certain requirements, Kyodo News reported.

Source: https://www.hcamag.com

Japan’s GMO takes aim at labor shortage with AI and robotics company

JHRS — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:03:27 GMT

Japan’s labor shortage is expected to become more severe in the coming decades due to its declining population. In March last year, Recruit Works Institute released a simulation showing that Japan might face a shortage of 3.41 million workers by 2030 and 11 million workers by 2040.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

BOJ index shows more Japan firms passing on wage costs in services prices

JHRS — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:00:49 GMT

TOKYO, June 18 (Reuters) - The price Japanese companies charge each other for services with high labour costs rose 2.8% in April from a year earlier, the fastest increase in nearly four years, central bank data showed on Tuesday.

The data highlights how prospects of steady wage increases are prompting more companies to charge more for their services, a trend the Bank of Japan (BOJ) sees as a prerequisite to raise interest rates from current near-zero levels.

Source: https://www.reuters.com

Japan's April job availability falls amid inflation

JHRS — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 07:44:15 GMT

Japan's job availability ratio in April fell 0.02 point from the previous month to 1.26, marking the first drop in two months, as high material prices weighed on recruitment in the manufacturing sector, government data showed Friday.

Separate data showed the country's unemployment rate stood at 2.6 percent in the reporting month, unchanged from March.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Japan firms attend seminar on recruiting top Indian students

JHRS — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 07:40:18 GMT

Japanese companies are increasingly seeking to hire graduates of a top Indian science university amid a severe shortage of IT workers.

Representatives from about 100 Japanese firms attended a seminar in Tokyo on Monday for advice on recruiting students from the Indian Institute of Technology.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

OECD criticizes fees for foreign technical trainees in Japan

JHRS — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 07:36:31 GMT

The OECD said Thursday that it is problematic that foreign technical trainees often bear heavy debts to pay fees to the organizations that send them to Japan.

The position was included in an overview of the OECD's first review on Japan's foreign labor policy, conducted over the three years from 2021 with the labor ministry's National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Some 40% of skilled foreign workers choose to remain in Japan: OECD

JHRS — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 07:18:49 GMT

TOKYO - Some 40 percent of highly skilled foreign workers choose to remain in Japan, a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development showed Thursday, with the relatively high rate benefitting the Asian nation struggling with a labor shortage.

In its first review of Japan's labor migration policy, the OECD also highlighted controversial aspects of the country's foreign technical intern program, which the government plans to revamp amid criticism that the program has provided cover for companies seeking to import cheap labor from Asia and fostered conditions conducive to human rights violations.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Foreign workers in Japan climb the ladder at smaller firms

JHRS — Thu, 16 May 2024 02:57:48 GMT

The number of foreign workers in Japan increased nearly threefold in a decade to 2.05 million in 2023, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Although companies have been relying on foreign labor for years, the recent surge has increased the need for foreign supervisors.

Japan needs 6.74 million foreign workers to achieve the government's growth goals for 2040, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency. This will require not only attracting more foreign talent, but retaining it as well.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Over 80,000 foreigners working at convenience stores in Japan

JHRS — Thu, 16 May 2024 01:35:15 GMT

Over 80,000 foreign nationals work part-time in Japan's three TOKYO- major convenience store chains, data collected by Kyodo News showed Wednesday, in a trend likely to continue amid labor shortages from an aging population.

Foreign workers now represent around 10 percent of the part-time labor force across branches of Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Lawson Inc. and FamilyMart Co. convenience stores, according to the data.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Japan small firms raising wages amid labor shortages, government paper says

JHRS — Thu, 16 May 2024 00:04:24 GMT

Wage hikes are spreading among small companies in Japan, which account for about 70% of the country's employment, on the back of labor shortages and price increases, according to a government white paper.

At the same time, the 2024 White Paper on Small and Medium Enterprises in Japan said that such firms need to step up moves to pass on higher costs via pricing and secure sufficient funds to boost wages in order to achieve sustainable wage growth.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Report on spring labor talks shows Japan's irregular workers mostly left behind

JHRS — Thu, 16 May 2024 00:01:37 GMT

TOKYO -- An interim report on spring labor talks in Japan was announced here on May 9 by a group seeking significant wage raises for low-paid, nonregular workers who were largely left out of negotiations that have seen wide-ranging pay increases for permanent staff.

Source: https://mainichi.jp

Japan turns to new technologies to counter labor shortages

JHRS — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:07:40 GMT

Healthcare, distribution, hospitality, agriculture: In Japan, no economic sector is spared by an increasingly blatant labor shortage. The problem is so acute that it sometimes has tragic consequences. How can the Noto peninsula, where the January 1 earthquake destroyed more than 60,600 houses and buildings, be rebuilt quickly when the number of construction workers has fallen by 30% compared to the 1997 high? And at what price? The cost of the Osaka World Expo in 2025 has already doubled due to inflation in raw material prices and a shortage of manpower.

Source: https://www.lemonde.fr

Japan steps up drive to secure airport ground handling workers

JHRS — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:06:14 GMT

Japan's aviation industry is intensifying efforts to showcase the appeal of airport ground handling roles, vital for providing ground support services at airports including aircraft guidance.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Are local governments in Japan ready to embrace a four-day workweek?

JHRS — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:04:46 GMT

Several municipalities across Japan are beginning to test the waters with a four-day workweek in the current fiscal year from April, allowing employees to opt for longer workdays in exchange for an extra weekday off.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan job availability down to 1.29 in FY 2023, 1st fall in 3 yrs

JHRS — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 19:03:41 GMT

TOKYO- Japan's job availability ratio for fiscal 2023 fell 0.02 point to 1.29 from the previous year, marking its first decline in three years, government data showed Tuesday, as companies reduced their recruiting practices amid pressure from rising materials costs.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

A year into his job, Bank of Japan chief Ueda gets 1 mission accomplished

JHRS — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 14:22:09 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) -A year into his job, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said he had achieved a goal he set when taking the helm: changing the bank's complex monetary stimulus into a simpler framework.

Speaking in parliament on Monday, he also said the BOJ would continue with such efforts and set monetary policy in accordance with changes in the economy.

Source: https://www.msn.com

Nearly 60% of job seekers in Japan survey eager to join workplace social events

JHRS — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 14:10:32 GMT

TOKYO -- While many workers may be thinking about how to get to know their new colleagues with the start of the new fiscal year in April, a recent survey by a Tokyo-based human resource information service company found 59.6% of job seekers wanted to attend workplace events.

Source: https://www.msn.com

'Resignation agency' receives scores of requests from new employees in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 14:08:25 GMT

TOKYO -- A "resignation agency" in Japan that handles negotiations with companies on behalf of employees when they quit has already received scores of requests from new hires just two weeks into the new fiscal year.

In many cases, employees apparently say they decided to quit because the situation differed from what they had heard before they joined the company.

Source: https://www.msn.com

Japan’s young workers head abroad as huge wage gap persists

JHRS — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 14:05:46 GMT

TOKYO - Mr Tomoki Yoshihara starts his shift at a meat-processing plant in rural Australia at 5am, and earns three times more butchering lambs for almost 50 hours a week than he did as a member of Japan’s military.

He is among a record number of young Japanese granted working holiday visas in Australia last financial year, lured by higher wages that are made even more attractive by the weakening yen.

Source: https://www.straitstimes.com

Japan February Jobless Rate Unexpectedly Rises to 5-Month High of 2.6% on Job Cuts, New Job Seekers, after Easing to Near 4-Year Low of 2.4% in January

JHRS — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:34:58 GMT

Japanese payrolls posted a 19th straight rise on year in February amid labor shortages at factories, communications firms, hotels and restaurants, but the unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to a five-month high of 2.6% after falling to a nearly four-year low of 2.4% in January from 2.5% in December, data released Friday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed.

Japan turns to new technologies to counter labor shortages

JHRS — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:30:12 GMT

For a number of years, companies have been trying to adapt to this new situation by expanding their recruitment base, notably by hiring more women, but also the elderly, who are authorized to work until the age of 70 or more. Authorities are even considering raising the retirement age for cab drivers from 75 to 80.

Source: https://www.lemonde.fr

Japan Logs Fastest Wage Increase since 1994

JHRS — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:09:35 GMT

Tokyo, March 28 (Jiji Press)--The average monthly pay of full-time workers in Japan in 2023 rose 2.1 pct from the previous year, the fastest growth since 2.6 pct marked in 1994, according to a government survey.

The 2023 average stood at 318,300 yen, hitting a record high for the second consecutive year, the labor ministry's Basic Survey on Wage Structure showed Wednesday.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan adds driver and railway roles to skilled foreign worker visa

JHRS — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 13:06:17 GMT

The government on Friday added four new industries to its foreign skilled worker visa program as it moves to address the nation's driver shortage by allowing more people access to stays of up to five years.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan eyes up to 800,000 more skilled foreign workers over next 5 years

JHRS — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 07:39:04 GMT

TOKYO - Japan is set to sharply increase the number of foreigners it accepts under its skilled worker visa with plans to receive up to 800,000 people in the next five years, a source familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

In an attempt to cope with an acute labor shortage, the government is considering adding the road transportation, railway, forestry and timber industries as targets of the visa system, which was introduced in April 2019, the source said.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Japan’s top airlines to hire 3,700 workers in the next year

JHRS — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 07:32:05 GMT

Japan’s two biggest airlines — All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines — announced plans to recruit more than 3,700 new employees in the fiscal year ending in March 2025 to meet the continued demand following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan's Workforce May Fall 9.56 M. from 2022 to 2040: Estimate

JHRS — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 06:49:37 GMT

Tokyo, March 12 (Jiji Press)--The number of workers in Japan would fall by 9.56 million from 2022 to 57.68 million in 2040 if the country continues to have no economic growth and lacks active labor force participation, mainly by women, according to an estimate by a government-affiliated body.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan firms across sectors offer pay hikes of up to 12% in spring talks

JHRS — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 06:46:24 GMT

An increasing number of major companies in Japan are reaching early deals with their labor unions on large pay hikes in this year's spring wage negotiations.

These firms include not only automakers and other manufacturers but also restaurant and other service operators and retailers, reflecting a recovery in earnings from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a sense of crisis over labor shortages.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan tech firms face fierce competition for global talent amid skills shortage

JHRS — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:14:05 GMT

Japan is facing a stark shortage of skilled human resources in the technology sector, even as it seeks to digitalise its economy and kickstart its lagging semiconductor industry.

Source: https://www.scmp.com

Japan: Defence ministry eases haircut rules for troops

JHRS — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:09:12 GMT

New recruits to the Japanese military will be allowed to have longer hair in a bid to attract more young people, the country's defence ministry has said.

The announcement comes as Japan struggles with a shortage of soldiers in the face of growing concerns about China and North Korea.

Source: https://www.bbc.com

Japan Eyes Training Foreign Workers amid Labor Shortages

JHRS — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:07:06 GMT

Tokyo (Jiji Press)—The Japanese government has adopted plans to create a new system designed to train unskilled foreign workers and facilitate their attainment of medium- to long-term employment opportunities in Japan.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Japan to end technical intern program and allow transfers to new jobs

JHRS — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:04:06 GMT

The government on Friday formally decided to abolish the controversial foreign technical intern program, marking a significant shift in its approach to workers from overseas. In its place, there will be a new system enabling long-term residency.

The new system is aimed at bringing foreign workers up to a certain skill level within three years, paving the way for a long-term stay in Japan.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Domino's apologizes over online video of employee's pizza antics

JHRS — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:22:23 GMT

Pizza delivery giant Domino's has apologized after a video surfaced online Monday of an employee pretending to pick his nose and wipe it on pizza dough — the latest in a spate of similar incidents to go viral online.

The video, which was posted at around 3 p.m. Monday on the Bakusai forum website, showed what appeared to be a uniformed Domino's Pizza employee picking his nose and rubbing it on the pizza dough.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan to Lift Outpatient Visit Fees for Higher Worker Pay

JHRS — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:22:31 GMT

Tokyo, Feb. 14 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese government advisory panel Wednesday proposed hikes in hospital visit fees paid by outpatients for their initial and follow-up medical examinations, in order to increase salaries of health care workers.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan plans to revamp foreign workers programme

JHRS — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:06:30 GMT

The Japanese government has decided to revamp its foreign-trainee programme, which has faced criticism for exploiting cheap labour. The country is now introducing a new system aimed at teaching skills and protecting the rights of trainees.

Source: https://www.hrkatha.com

Japan approves bill to improve labor conditions for truck drivers

JHRS — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 09:42:12 GMT

The Japanese government approved a bill Tuesday to improve labor conditions for truck drivers, promoting better pay and implementing measures to reduce hours worked in response to the labor shortage in the logistics industry.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan’s Job Availability Ratio Rises for 2nd Straight Year

JHRS — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:40:52 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press)—The average ratio of effective job openings to seekers in Japan rose for the second straight year in 2023 as demand for labor grew following the removal of COVID-19 restrictions and amid serious workforce shortages, government data showed Tuesday.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Japan's companies increased hiring in 2023

JHRS — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 14:35:45 GMT

Japanese companies are hiring more people as the economy bounces back from a coronavirus downturn. The increase has yet to surpass pre-pandemic levels for jobs as businesses struggle with higher materials costs.

The labor ministry says the ratio of openings to job seekers increased for the second straight year in 2023 to 1.31. That means there were 131 positions offered for every 100 applicants. It's an uptick of 0.03 points from 2022.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan's foreign worker population tops 2 million for first time

JHRS — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:33:48 GMT

TOKYO - The number of foreign workers in Japan as of the end of last October topped 2 million for the first time, government data showed Friday, as the country grapples with labor shortages amid an aging population.

The rise to a record 2,048,675 foreign workers, up 225,950, or 12.4 percent, from the previous year, was also due to a recovery in the number of technical interns following the end of Japan's strict coronavirus border controls.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Japan job market remains tight, keeping hopes for wage hikes

JHRS — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:31:34 GMT

Japan’s labor market showed further signs of tightness in December, driven by a manpower shortage across a swath of sectors in a closely watched development as companies engage in annual wage negotiations with unions.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan resumes work at new US military site on Okinawa despite local opposition

JHRS — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 16:47:03 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese construction workers on Wednesday resumed landfill work at the new site of the U.S. military base on Okinawa despite protests by the island's residents that the move tramples on their rights and raises environmental concerns.

Source: https://abcnews.go.com

OECD urges Japan to scrap mandatory retirement amid labor shortage

JHRS — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 16:44:32 GMT

TOKYO -- Abolishing mandatory retirement will be key to Japan securing the workers it needs amid a population decline, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said in a new economic report on the country published Thursday.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Japan’s slower wage growth adds to reasons for BOJ to hold

JHRS — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:57:19 GMT

Headline wage growth for Japanese workers slowed sharply in November, an unwelcome development for the Bank of Japan as it seeks evidence of a virtuous cycle linking pay hikes to price increases as a prerequisite for normalizing monetary policy.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan to provide subsidies to companies and employees affected by Noto quake

JHRS — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:53:15 GMT

Companies forced to downsize operations due to the earthquake are eligible for employment adjustment subsidies. The ministry has announced it will raise the subsidy rate to a maximum of 80 percent of the absence allowance that companies pay to their employees.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

More Japanese companies move to rehire former employees

JHRS — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 19:10:08 GMT

A growing number of Japanese companies are moving to rehire former employees who have quit before retirement age — a move aimed at securing work-ready personnel amid serious labor shortages crippling the country.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan's November job availability falls to 16-month low amid inflation

JHRS — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 19:08:16 GMT

TOKYO - Japan's job availability ratio for November fell 0.02 point from the previous month to 1.28, a level not seen since July last year, as persistently high prices weighed on recruitment activities in some service sectors, government data showed Tuesday.

Separate data showed the country's unemployment rate, meanwhile, stood at 2.5 percent in the reporting month, unchanged from the previous month.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Japan’s Labor Demand Holds Steady in Positive Sign for Wages

JHRS — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 19:02:20 GMT

Japan’s labor market remained relatively tight in November, keeping pressure on employers to boost pay in order to fill positions as companies prepare to engage in annual wage negotiations with unions.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com

Japanese inn turns to tourists to ease labor shortage

JHRS — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 18:45:15 GMT

The holiday travel rush in Japan is worsening labor shortages around the country, especially in the tourism industry. But one inn has come up with a unique system to ease the effects of the problem.

A rickshaw tour business in Asakusa lost nearly half of its drivers during the coronavirus pandemic. Some have returned, but the staff is still about 20 percent smaller than its pre-pandemic size.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

77.2 pct of high school students in Japan secure job offers

JHRS — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 14:20:57 GMT

TOKYO, Dec,16, 2023 (BSS/Xinhua) - A total of 77.2 percent of high school students in Japan who are scheduled to graduate next spring have received job offers by the end of October, a recent survey has found.

The Japanese education ministry survey showed Friday that the figure was up 1.1 percentage points from a year earlier.

Source: https://www.bssnews.net

Number of 'spot workers' surges in Japan amid labor shortage

JHRS — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 11:55:06 GMT

The ranks of "spot workers" — who engage in work during their free time, balancing it with their primary jobs and household responsibilities — are increasing rapidly in Japan.

The work style has gained popularity due to the flexibility it offers: Individuals can choose when and where to work through dedicated apps.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Labor-rich Indonesia aims to send 100,000 workers to aging Japan

JHRS — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 04:30:38 GMT

JAKARTA -- Indonesia says it plans to send 100,000 workers to Japan over the next five years, helping Tokyo ease a pressing labor shortage as the population of the world's No. 3 economy ages.

The Southeast Asian nation's manpower ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) held their first joint human resources forum in Jakarta on Nov. 28, drawing over 200 attendees including Indonesian government officials and representatives from Japanese industries ranging from the auto sector to tourism and nursing care.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Japan facilities for disabled people face serious labor shortages

JHRS — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 11:51:20 GMT

Facilities for people with disabilities in Japan are facing severe labor shortages, a recent survey by a group supporting disabled people showed, affected by low wages and a shrinking workforce in the graying country.

Only 53.5% of openings for regular employees were filled at such facilities in fiscal 2022, far below the average of 81.3% at private firms and government institutions hiring new graduates this year, Kyosaren said.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Foreign workers in Japan can switch jobs in 1 to 2 years under plan

JHRS — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:16:06 GMT

TOKYO -- Foreign workers in a new international trainee program that Japan plans to launch may be able to switch jobs after up to two years, according to a new proposal published by an expert government panel Wednesday.

Japan is currently designing a replacement for the troubled technical intern program, which has come under fire for low pay and labor abuses. Among the chief complaints are that interns cannot move to a different employer except under extraordinary circumstances.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Japan govt. panel submits report on new training program for foreign workers

JHRS — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:13:39 GMT

A Japanese government panel has submitted a report to the justice minister, proposing the introduction of a new on-the-job training program for foreign workers.

The panel of experts compiled the report last week.

The report recommends abolishing the existing initiative for foreign technical trainees, which was cited for labor abuses, and replacing it with the new program.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

MAJORITY OF SENIOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SECURE JOBS (THE JAPAN NEWS)

JHRS — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:12:14 GMT

Nearly 75% of university students in Japan who are set to graduate next spring have secured jobs, reports The Japan News, citing research from the labour and education ministries.

Source: https://www2.staffingindustry.com

75％ of Senior Univ. Students Secure Jobs

JHRS — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 14:24:26 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Nearly 75% of university students set to graduate in Japan next spring have secured jobs, the labor and education ministries said Friday.

As of Oct. 1, 74.8% of job-hunting students had received informal job offers, with the employment offer rate for spring graduates up 0.7 percentage point from a year earlier.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Japan Job Fair 2023 draws Vietnamese students

JHRS — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:29:39 GMT

Nearly 30 leading Japanese corporations and firms are recruiting over 2,500 employees and interns in Japan and Japanese affiliates at the Japan Job Fair 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City on November 4.

The event was held in both in-person and online formats by the Vietnam-Japan Institute of Technology (VJIT) and the Business Cooperation Centre under the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), in collaboration with Japan’s Pasona group and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn

Japan service activity posts slowest growth this year – PMI

JHRS — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:22:21 GMT

TOKYO – Japan’s services activity expanded at the slowest pace this year in October, a business survey showed on Monday, reinforcing concerns that the key sector propelling economic growth is continuing to soften. The final au Jibun Bank Service purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 51.6 in October from 53.8 in September, beset by weak demand.

Source: https://www.msn.com

Toddlers are put to work spreading cheer at Japanese nursing home

JHRS — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:29:16 GMT

KITAKYUSHU, Japan — Once a week, Rena Shinohara heads off to work, clocking in for a shift at a job one could say she was born to do.

Loneliness is such an acute problem that in 2021 the Japanese government appointed its first “minister of loneliness,” charged with helping people of all ages connect especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com

Japan's gangs hiring online

JHRS — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:25:02 GMT

RISA Yamada grew up fatherless and struggled to find consistent work until she stumbled on an intriguing job listing: one of a growing number of advertisements posted on social media by Japanese criminal gangs.

Hired to impersonate a police officer, she thrived, wheedling hundreds of thousands of dollars out of Japan's many lonely, wealthy and naive elderly people on the phone.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my

Japan to add driving to specified foreign worker skills

JHRS — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 06:57:24 GMT

In a bid to ease driver shortages, the transport ministry is working with relevant government agencies to add driving buses as a specified skill to the specified skilled foreign worker program, minister Tetsuo Saito said Tuesday.

"We'll make various efforts to ensure that local residents and tourists have access to necessary means of transportation," Saito told a news conference.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japanese government grant to support work on new ispace lunar lander

JHRS — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 05:36:51 GMT

LAS VEGAS — The Japanese government is providing ispace with $80 million to help fund development of a new lunar lander in parallel with a similar effort by the company’s U.S. subsidiary.

Tokyo-based ispace said Oct. 20 that it won an innovation grant from the government’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) worth up to 12 billion yen ($80 million) for work on what the company calls the Series 3 lunar lander that will be ready for launch by 2027.

Source: https://spacenews.com

Japan panel compiles new system for foreign technical interns

JHRS — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 07:08:47 GMT

A government panel of experts released a draft report Wednesday on a new system that would replace the foreign technical intern program, with various changes including allowing workers to switch jobs within the same industry if they meet certain requirements.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Women are asking for promotions, but men keep getting them

JHRS — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 07:02:10 GMT

Women want to be leaders in the workplace, but employers are still passing them by in favor of their male counterparts.

For every 100 men promoted to a manager role in 2022, only 87 women received the same boost, according to the Women in the Workplace report by Sheryl Sandberg’s LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Co. The number of women promoted inched up from 86 in 2021, but they’re still getting overlooked despite asking for promotions at the same rate as men, the survey found.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Report on overwork highlights Japan's work-life balance issues

JHRS — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 18:11:37 GMT

The report, the eighth one mandated by the 2014 law on karōshi prevention measures, delves into the amount of sleep both self-employed and corporate workers are getting and how that affects workers' health. Research has shown that, when the gap between the amount of sleep people want and the amount they get is bigger than two hours a day, it leads to a range of health issues, including daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating and digestive and intestinal disorders, not to mention mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

'Not proud at all': Japan struggles to recruit for Self-Defense Forces

JHRS — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 18:07:53 GMT

A recent open day at a military base near Tokyo was a fun family outing, but, despite the games and snacks, the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) recruitment stand was bereft of visitors.

"This is the reality. The festival is always packed but no one comes," confessed one of the two soldiers on duty, as unwanted leaflets sat on a table next to a green armored vehicle.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Young Japanese people work to revive a vanishing village

JHRS — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 18:05:11 GMT

Entrepreneurial young Japanese people are trying to reinvigorate Japan's most aged village — where more than two thirds of residents are over 65 — and keep it from vanishing from the map.

Villages across Japan's countryside are facing extinction as the population ages and shrinks. NPR's Anthony Kuhn visited Japan's most aged village, where most residents are over age 65. He reports on the village's efforts to attract young people to reinvigorate it.

Source: https://www.npr.org

No. of foreign residents in Japan rises to record 3.2 million

JHRS — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 18:03:59 GMT

The number of foreign nationals residing in Japan hit a record high of over 3.2 million in 2023, government data showed Friday, as more workers entered to meet demand created by the country’s labor shortage.

As of the end of June, 3,223,858 foreigners resided in Japan, up 148,645 from the end of December 2022, according to the Immigration Services Agency.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan's job market unchanged in August

JHRS — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 13:40:39 GMT

The latest figures show that Japan's job market in August maintained the same level as the previous month. That was as some employers were reluctant to increase hiring as they struggle with higher costs.

The labor ministry says there were 129 job openings for every 100 applicants, unchanged from July. The ratio had been falling for three months in a row.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Skilled workers, low-wage earners work second jobs more than others in Japan

JHRS — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 13:38:59 GMT

Tokyo- Higher-paid individuals with specialized skills and low-wage workers in need of additional income to make ends meet tend to take on second jobs more than middle-class workers, a government survey showed.

Among employees of different income classes, 6.25 percent of those earning 10 million yen or more a year in their main jobs had side jobs in 2022, with the proportion even higher for individuals earning 15 million yen or more, according to the Employment Status Survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Source: https://japantoday.com

Japan expands jobs for int’l vocational grads

JHRS — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 10:36:09 GMT

The new guidelines and accreditation system is expected to patch the hole in the system, but no official tandem program like the current one for universities has been announced yet.

Source: https://thepienews.com

Higher-paid and low-wage workers more likely to work second jobs

JHRS — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 10:33:03 GMT

Higher-paid individuals with specialized skills and low-wage workers in need of additional income to make ends meet tend to take on second jobs more than middle-class workers, a government survey showed.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Workers stage Japan’s first strike in decades to protest department store sale to U.S. fund

JHRS — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 12:21:32 GMT

Workers at a major Tokyo department store went on strike on Thursday after talks with management over the planned sale of their company broke down, marking the first major walk-out the country has seen in decades.

Some 900 workers at the flagship Seibu store in the bustling district of Ikebukuro are protesting the sale of Sogo & Seibu, a unit of retail giant Seven & i, to U.S. fund Fortress Investment Group.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com

Japan set to expand visa framework to tackle driver shortage

JHRS — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 12:19:18 GMT

Aiming to tackle a severe shortage of taxi, bus and truck drivers, Japan is planning to expand the existing visa framework for specified skilled workers in order to attract foreign nationals in the transport and logistics industries.

With both industries especially struggling to recruit new workers as existing drivers grow older, the manpower situation is expected to continue deteriorating in the coming years.

Source:https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japanese women are missing out on ¥111 trillion in unpaid wages

JHRS — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:44:53 GMT

Japanese women are missing out on around ¥111 trillion ($761 billion) in pay for a range of household tasks they do for free, an amount that’s roughly equivalent to a fifth of the country’s economy.

Source:https://www.japantimes.co.jp

2023 summer bonuses second-highest on record in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:42:28 GMT

Bonuses at major Japanese companies this summer averaged ¥845,557, up 1.59% from a year before and hitting the second-highest level on record, the labor ministry has announced.

The average was slightly higher than the ¥845,453 in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and trailed only the ¥870,731 in 2018, the ministry said Friday.

Source:https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan's job situation worsens as price rises hit employers

JHRS — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 20:14:47 GMT

The latest employment figures show that Japan's job market worsened in July as employers struggled with higher prices.

The labor ministry says there were 129 job openings for every 100 applicants last month. That's down from 130 in June, marking the third straight month of declines.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

As tourism booms, Japan struggles with labor shortages and weary locals

JHRS — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 08:53:25 GMT

The number of visitors to Japan in the first half of this year recovered to over 60% of pre-pandemic levels, highlighting progress in the nation's road to becoming a tourism-oriented country once again. Still, the country faces many challenges, including serious labor shortages in the hotel industry.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Over 50% of seniors in Japan wishing to be in work unemployed: survey

JHRS — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 16:18:39 GMT

Tokyo- Over 50 percent of those aged 60 through 74 years old in Japan over recent years have remained unemployed despite wishing to be in work, a recent survey by a human resources company has found, even as the country faces a labor shortage.

It also found that around two-thirds of the companies polled are not eager to hire senior people as full-time employees, although many of them said there was no particular reason for their stance, according to Recruit Co.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Illegal practices found at 7,247 firms employing foreign trainees

JHRS — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 15:28:23 GMT

Illegal practices were uncovered at 7,247 workplaces in Japan that employed foreign trainees last year, the government said recently, apparently substantiating criticism of companies participating in the controversial, decades-old program over alleged human rights infringements.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Over 7,200 businesses with foreign trainees violate law: Japan labor ministry

JHRS — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 19:03:33 GMT

Japan's labor ministry says it has found that more than 7,200 business establishments violated laws last year regarding their foreign technical trainees.

Japan has a system designed to enable trainees from developing countries to learn skills, technologies, and expertise while working in the country. As of last December, Japan had about 325,000 such trainees.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan’s labor crunch is so acute that companies are hiring 70-year-olds

JHRS — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 17:29:43 GMT

In Japan, an aging population has created a massive labor crunch in the country. Japan Inc., though, has found a solution in the problem itself: Hire older workers.

Last year, four in 10 companies hired people aged 70 or more, Nikkei reported, citing the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Source: https://qz.com

Japan welcomes return of Chinese group tours amid labor shortage fear

JHRS — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 10:54:33 GMT

Japanese businesses welcomed China's announcement on Thursday that Japan-bound group tours will resume following a hiatus due to COVID-19, hoping for the return of bakugai — the term used to describe "explosive" big-budget shopping by Chinese tourists — but some industries expressed concern about labor shortages.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan's job-to-applicant ratio dips for second consecutive month in June

JHRS — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 08:27:16 GMT

Japan's labor ministry says the ratio of job openings to applicants dipped in June, partly because a rise in the cost of living prompted more people to seek employment.

Ministry officials noted that older people said they were finding it difficult to make ends meet on just their pensions.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan to Extend Visas for Foreign Domestic Workers

JHRS — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:38:42 GMT

The government plans to extend the maximum stay for foreign residents who provide domestic work assistance in National Strategic Special Zones to help offset an expected shortage of such workers caused by pandemic-related entry restrictions, according to sources.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Japan to boost training for digital workers to stave off shortage

JHRS — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:36:20 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's government plans to expand opportunities for students and working adults to acquire digital skills, aiming to add about 110,000 people studying in the field through fiscal 2024 as it faces a shortage of talent in areas like artificial intelligence.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Japan Labor Ministry Proposes Record Increase in Minimum Wage

JHRS — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 14:29:47 GMT

Japan’s labor ministry is proposing a record increase in the minimum hourly pay that will push the rate to above 1,000 yen ($7.08) for the first time and help low-income households tackle inflation.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com

As tourism booms, Japan struggles with labor shortages and weary locals

JHRS — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 14:25:15 GMT

Japan’s Real Wages Down 1.2 % in May

JHRS — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 16:31:18 GMT

TOKYO July 7 (Jiji Press) — Japan’s inflation-adjusted real wage index in May dropped 1.2 % from the year before, down for 14 months in a row, the labor ministry said Friday.

Still, the May drop was smaller than the 3.2 % decline marked a month earlier, apparently reflecting pay hike agreements at many companies in this year’s “shunto” spring labor-management talks.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Japan's base salary growth hit 28-year high in May

JHRS — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:51:05 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japan's nominal base salary grew at the fastest pace in 28 years in May, government data showed on Friday, adding fuel to the debate over when the central bank will unwind its ultra-loose monetary stimulus.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Over 30,000 Food Items Subject to Price Hikes in Japan This Year

JHRS — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:48:17 GMT

Tokyo, July 12 (Jiji Press)--Over 30,000 food and beverage items are subject to price increases in Japan this year as businesses continue to pass on higher costs from a weak yen and rising electricity fees to consumers, a survey by research firm Teikoku Databank Ltd. showed Wednesday.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan’s top court says government restrictions on transgender employee’s use of restrooms illegal

JHRS — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:42:50 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that restrictions imposed by a government ministry on a transgender female employee’s use of restrooms at her workplace are illegal, in a landmark decision that could promote the rights of LGBTQ+ people in a country without legal protections for them.

Source: https://apnews.com

In workaholic Japan, ‘job leaving agents’ help people escape the awkwardness of quitting

JHRS — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 16:07:30 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — In Japan, a nation reputed for loyalty to companies and lifetime employment, people who job-hop are often viewed as quitters. And that’s considered shameful.

Enter “taishoku daiko,” or “job-leaving agents.” Dozens of such services have sprung up in the last several years to help people who simply want out.

Source: https://apnews.com

Tokyo-Based Recruitment Platform En-Japan Launches Digital Reskilling Product

JHRS — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:18:24 GMT

En-Japan, a provider of online recruitment services, has introduced a reskilling product to help start-ups and SMEs undergoing digital transformation to discover and develop their existing human resources to help them bridge the skills gap. En SX [sales transformation] Reskilling is an extension of En SX, launched in April 2021 to help clients improve business performance.

Source: https://www.edtechreview.in

Japan retains economic view in June, more upbeat on labor conditions

JHRS — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:16:26 GMT

The Japanese government on Thursday retained its view that the economy is recovering moderately, with growing confidence in labor market conditions due to rising wages and their expected positive impact on domestic demand.

In its monthly economic report, the government raised its assessment of employment conditions for the first time in 11 months, saying there has been “improvement recently.” It also changed its assessment of wholesale prices from “flat” to “falling moderately.”

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan to teach teenagers to make EV batteries amid labor shortage

JHRS — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:12:40 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese teenagers will be taught to make batteries for electric vehicles as part of a national effort starting this year to overcome labor shortages in the industry.

A plan to train 30,000 battery-related workers by 2030 -- in addition to the current workforce of about 10,000 -- was detailed in March by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and trade groups including the Battery Association for Supply Chain, which includes Toyota Motor, Panasonic Energy and their battery joint venture, Prime Planet Energy & Solutions.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

One in Three Japanese Still Face Gender Discrimination in Job Recruitment

JHRS — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 17:34:45 GMT

According to a survey by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengō) looking at discrimination during the recruitment process for workers, 32.8% of job seekers felt they had been discriminated against due to their gender. This result highlighted the low awareness among corporate recruiters of gender equality.

The nationwide survey, held online in early April, 2023, received a total of 1,000 valid responses from men and women aged 15 to 29 who had taken recruitment tests, either as a new graduate or mid-career, within the last three years.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan’s Foreign Worker Program Is Ripe for Reform

JHRS — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 15:49:31 GMT

The Technical Intern Training Program was established in 1993, ostensibly as a way for Japan to make a positive international contribution through human resource development. The program allowed young foreigners to work in Japan, acquiring skills and exposure to the country’s advanced technology.

Source: https://international.thenewslens.com

Skilled foreign workers hope to build lives in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 20:19:27 GMT

In a sign of Japan's increasing need for foreign labor, the Cabinet has approved an expansion of the types of work for which long-term residency is allowed. The possibility of staying in the country permanently is a welcome development for foreign workers who meet the requirements.

Cabinet ministers on Friday widened Category 2 residence status to allow more workers to extend their stay in the country indefinitely and bring family members to Japan.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan Expands Scope of Category II Residence Status Amidst Labor Shortage

JHRS — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 20:17:57 GMT

The government decided to expand the scope of the Category II residence status for foreign workers during a Cabinet meeting on Friday. It will expand from the current two fields to 11. Prior to the meeting, it was also decided to dissolve the foreign technical intern training program aimed at international contribution during a related ministerial meeting. A new system will be created that focuses primarily on securing human resources.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Japan to expand skilled worker visa system to address labor shortage

JHRS — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 20:11:13 GMT

Tokyo - Japan's Cabinet on Friday approved a plan to expand the scope of industries covered by the blue-collar skilled worker visa that creates a path to permanent residency for foreigners, in a major shift in the country's restrictive immigration policy.

Raising the number of industries to 11 from the current two, the government seeks to start holding language and skill examinations targeting applicants in the newly added sectors from around this fall after soliciting public opinion.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

70% of Japanese firms say candidates' use of ChatGPT won't affect hiring process

JHRS — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 03:21:09 GMT

TOKYO -- Some 70% of recruiting staff at private firms in Japan said the desire to hire a candidate would not be affected by the fact they used the ChatGPT chatbot to create their resumes, coversheets and other materials for the screening process, a staffing agency announced on May 25.

Source: https://mainichi.jp

97 Pct of New University Graduates in Japan Land Jobs

JHRS — Sun, 28 May 2023 14:34:03 GMT

Tokyo, May 26 (Jiji Press)--The proportion of people in Japan who graduated from universities in March and secured jobs as of April 1 came to 97.3 pct, up 1.5 percentage points from a year before, a survey by the labor and education ministries showed Friday.

The job-securing ratio marked the first increase in three years and nearly reached pre-pandemic levels as the economy recovered from the pandemic. The ratio was at a record high of 98.0 pct in 2018 and 2020.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Job adverts from next April must state potential transfers

JHRS — Sun, 28 May 2023 14:28:56 GMT

Companies will be obligated to provide information about possible transfers and changes in workload when they advertise job vacancies starting from April next year.

The new rules are listed in the labor ministry’s proposed bill to revise a ministerial ordinance to prevent new hires from resigning over abrupt and unwanted transfers or unexpected tasks.

Source: https://www.asahi.com

Japan fiscal 2022 real wages fall most in 8 years as inflation bites

JHRS — Sun, 28 May 2023 14:09:03 GMT

TOKYO – Japan’s inflation-adjusted real wages fell the most in eight years in the fiscal 2022 year, government data showed on Tuesday, as the rising cost of living overwhelmed workers’ nominal pay, government data showed on Tuesday.

The labor ministry data underscored the challenge for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government to kick the world’s third largest economy into higher gear through a virtuous cycle of inflation and wage growth.

Source: https://business.inquirer.net

Japan’s March real wages fall for 12th month amid inflation

JHRS — Mon, 15 May 2023 15:23:16 GMT

Japan’s real wages fell 2.9 percent in March from a year earlier, declining for the 12th straight month, affected by rising inflation that led to households tightening their purse strings, government data showed Tuesday.

The drop in inflation-adjusted wages comes as higher food, energy and other prices impacted by Russia’s war in Ukraine have outpaced pay hikes. The government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called on businesses to raise wages in line with inflation and help sustain the economy.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Many older women in Japan stuck in low-paying jobs

JHRS — Sun, 14 May 2023 16:02:05 GMT

Many older single women in Japan are struggling to make ends meet in their low-paid, nonregular jobs and are trapped in casual employment in a country with a persistently wide gender gap.

These women are one of the most neglected demographic groups in the nation’s social security system, which is designed to best serve traditional families where the husband works full time and the wife stays at home and cares for the children.

Source: https://www.asahi.com

Foreign students trying to work in Japan met with high hurdles

JHRS — Sun, 14 May 2023 15:44:31 GMT

Many foreign university students who are set to graduate in March 2024 want to stay in Japan and have begun looking for a job but are finding it difficult due to many barriers.

The government is aiming to have more foreign students find a job and settle in Japan, too, but there are many challenges.

Source: https://www.asahi.com

Japan’s Labor Movement Is Taking Up the Demands of Part-Time and Temporary Workers

JHRS — Sun, 14 May 2023 15:41:01 GMT

In Japan, part-time and temporary workers account for nearly 40% of the workforce but have historically been ignored by the country’s trade unions. This spring, 16 unions came together to demand a collective wage increase for nonregular workers.

Source: https://jacobin.com

Japan considers expanding scope of skilled worker visa with no stay limit

JHRS — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 13:12:58 GMT

TOKYO- Japan's immigration authorities on Monday proposed expanding the scope of a blue-collar skilled workers visa that effectively allows holders to stay in the country indefinitely in a possible major shift in its foreign labor policy.

The move comes in response to calls from the business community seeking to secure human resources amid an ongoing labor shortage and will increase the number of sectors that can be upgraded to the Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 status from two to 11.

Source: https://japantoday.com

Japanese Workers Not Consulting with Labor Unions

JHRS — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 13:10:05 GMT

The results of a survey on labor unions, conducted by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengō) in late October 2022, shows that working people in Japan do not view labor unions as organizations that can help them. The online survey was based on 2,000 valid responses from individuals aged 15 or older nationwide.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan eyes update for skilled foreign workers

JHRS — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 12:41:29 GMT

The Japanese government has begun talks on updating a status of residence for skilled foreign workers. The change would let them work in more fields.

Japan currently classifies status for skilled foreign workers in two categories. People who get the lower Category 1 can get jobs in 12 industries. But they can only stay in Japan for up to 5 years.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan's midcareer hires jump to 37% of all new jobs: survey

JHRS — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 12:29:37 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese companies will fill 37.6% of job openings with midcareer hires this fiscal year, a Nikkei study shows, the share representing the largest-ever shift away from Japan's traditional lifetime employment model.

Responses collected from 2,308 major companies indicate that 94,430 midcareer candidates will be hired in the year through March 2024.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Labor shortage prompts Japan to fix neglected intern system

JHRS — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:51:14 GMT

TOKYO -- A government panel of experts has proposed the abolition of the Technical Intern Training Program for foreign workers, citing a wide gap between its ideal of international contribution and actual practice as a way to alleviate an acute labor shortage. The proposal is expected to prompt the Japanese government to consider a new system to address the shortage through using foreign workers.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Foreign Workers in Japan Find Steady Employment a Boon, Seniority System a Drawback

JHRS — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 16:38:05 GMT

Originator, an employment company helping foreign students find jobs in Japan through its information website Ryūkatsu, recently conducted a survey targeting its registered members employed at companies in Japan. Respondents were asked about the merits of working in Japan, with multiple responses possible, and the majority, at 54.0%, answered “steady employment.” This was more than double the response for the second most mentioned benefit of being “able to do the work you want” at 25.8%. With the outlook for the global economy still uncertain, it seems that long-term employment, prevalent among Japanese companies, holds appeal for foreign employees.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Wage hikes boost consumer confidence in Japan

JHRS — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 09:26:56 GMT

Expectations of the biggest pay raises in decades have given a solid boost to consumer confidence in Japan. That's the findings of a recent government survey.

The Consumer Confidence Index for households of two or more people came to 33.9 in March. That's up 2.6 points from the previous month and the sharpest rise since June 2021.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan real wages extend fall in challenge for next BOJ chief

JHRS — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 15:24:36 GMT

Japanese workers’ real wages have fallen for the 11th straight month despite a government push for higher pay, highlighting the challenge awaiting incoming Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda.

Real cash earnings for Japan’s workers dropped 2.6% from a year earlier in February, matching economists’ forecast, the labor ministry reported Friday. The data is watched closely because many expect stronger pay data to prompt the BOJ, under its new chief, to consider ending its ultraeasy policy.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan to face 11 million worker shortfall by 2040, study finds

JHRS — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:11:07 GMT

Japan may face a shortage of more than 11 million workers by 2040, a study has found, underscoring the economic challenges the nation faces as its population ages rapidly.

The working age population is expected to rapidly decline from 2027, according to the study by independent think tank Recruit Works Institute, published Tuesday. The worker supply is expected to shrink by about 12% in 2040 from 2022, even as labor demand remains steady, the report said.

Source:https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan wants 85 percent of male workers to take paternity leave. But fathers are too afraid to take it

JHRS — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 19:22:26 GMT

Japanese authorities have widely promoted the term in the past decade to combat the country’s notoriously long working hours that have not only deprived workaholic fathers of family time and stay-home mothers of careers, but have helped drive the birth rate to one of the lowest in the world.

To seize the “last chance to reverse” the situation, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week unveiled a raft of policies, including boosts to child support and a pledge to lift the number of male workers taking paternity leave from the current 14 percent to 50 percent by 2025, and 85 percent by 2030.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com

Over 30％ of Major Japanese Firms Plan to Hire More Graduates

JHRS — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 19:17:18 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Over 30% of major Japanese firms plan to hire more new graduates in spring 2024 than this spring, a Jiji Press survey showed Thursday.

Competition for human resources is intensifying amid a recovery in economic activity from the COVID-19 crisis, while concerns about the country’s declining population and shortages of information technology personnel are growing.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Japan's growing part-time employment weighs on wages

JHRS — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 19:15:03 GMT

Part-time employment has been increasing in Japan over the last quarter century, a trend hindering strong growth in wages and prompting calls for legislative action to improve the treatment of those workers.

The country had 21.01 million non-regular workers in 2022, up roughly 260,000 from a year earlier, according to the government's labor force survey, with regular employees increasing just 10,000 to 35.88 million.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Japan’s real wages experiences biggest drop in almost a decade

JHRS — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 17:21:02 GMT

Despite the government’s efforts to push for higher pay, real wages for employees has continued to fall because of inflation.

Inflation is continuing to outpace wage gains in Japan, with real cash earnings for employees falling by 4.1% from January 2022, marking a 10th consecutive month of decline, reported Japan’s Labour Ministry.

Source: https://hrmasia.com

Job fair organized for Japanese tourism industry to resolve worker shortage

JHRS — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 11:15:14 GMT

Japan's tourism industry is struggling with a shortage of workers as demand for travel surges in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government organized an emergency job fair in a bid to help companies affected.

More than 30 businesses, including bus companies and hotel operators, sent recruiters to the fair on Wednesday.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan's job availability down in Jan. for 1st time in over 2 years

JHRS — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 13:59:20 GMT

Japan's job availability ratio fell in January for the first time in over two years, as more people sought jobs with better working conditions amid an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Friday.

The job-to-applicant ratio dropped 0.01 point from the previous month to 1.35, marking the first decline since August 2020, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. The ratio means there were 135 job openings for every 100 job seekers.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Job-hunting season begins in Japan for 2024 graduates

JHRS — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 16:19:51 GMT

Japanese companies kicked off job seminars Wednesday for university students graduating in spring 2024. The annual job-hunting season arrives amid labor shortages that reflect the normalization of economic activities after a slump caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

About 520 companies are set to take part in one three-day seminar through Friday at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center, which is expected to attract around 12,000 students.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan needs more than just new visa options to attract highly skilled workers

JHRS — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:57:45 GMT

Japan is eager to attract more highly skilled foreign workers, with the government having announced new visa pathways earlier this month. But recruitment companies say the latest move is unlikely to make much of a difference for such foreign workers amid a competitive global job market.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan lacking dairy farmers as cost of feed rises

JHRS — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 10:02:27 GMT

The number of dairy farmers in Japan declined 6.5% to 11,202 in December from a year before, the Japan Dairy Council said Friday.

The drop came amid the surging cost of feed, which is making life even harder for farmers weighed down by weak demand and a lack of successors to take over their farms. Feed accounts for half of dairy farmers’ production costs.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan hopes to attract highly skilled professionals with new residency program

JHRS — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 04:28:24 GMT

The Japanese government will launch a new residency program in a bid to attract talented professionals from other countries. Qualified foreign nationals would be given preferential immigration treatment.

A new special category for highly skilled professionals would include foreign researchers and engineers with an annual income of at least 20 million yen, or around 150,000 dollars, and a master's degree or more than 10 years of work experience.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Number of foreign workers in Japan hits record high

JHRS — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 10:05:10 GMT

The number of foreign workers in Japan hit a record high of more than 1.82 million last year.

The labor ministry says there were 1,822,725 foreign workers as of the end of last October. That's an increase of about 95,504, or 5.5 percent, from a year earlier. The figure has been on the rise since record-keeping began in 2007. The annual rate of increase fell to 0.2 percent in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it expanded again in the latest data.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Side-job matching app becomes popular in Sapporo amid labor shortage

JHRS — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 15:51:18 GMT

The use of a service connecting companies with workers seeking side jobs via an online app is spreading in Sapporo and its outlying areas.

The number of businesses and job seekers registering for the service has been on the rise against the backdrop of an increasingly severe manpower shortage, rising prices and more firms allowing their employees to work multiple jobs on the side, as cases of people working a few hours in between their main jobs increases.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Job Changes Rising among People in Their 40s, 50s in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 13:38:31 GMT

More and more people in their 40s to 50s are switching jobs in Japan, a trend defying the well-known theory that 35 is the ceiling in terms of age to making a career change.

This trend comes as short-staffed companies are racing to hire workers who can immediately step in to fill managerial or engineering posts. The COVID-19 pandemic has also created an opportunity for middle-aged corporate employees to rethink their life.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

Japan’s workers haven’t had a raise in 30 years. Companies are under pressure to pay up

JHRS — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 10:50:19 GMT

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is urging businesses to help workers keep up with higher living costs. Last month, he called on companies to hike pay at a level above inflation, with some already heeding the call.

Source : https://edition.cnn.com

BOJ decisions on policy change hinge on Japan’s inflexible wage dynamics

JHRS — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 07:48:06 GMT

After years of massive stimulus, Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda has placed wage growth at the center of debate over whether potentially market-jolting policy change looms at the central bank. Kuroda has insisted that the BOJ’s ultraloose policy must continue until there are signs inflation can be sustained by stronger pay gains.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan Inc strives to lure skilled workers as inflation, labour crunch bite

JHRS — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 04:52:17 GMT

From inflation allowances to the reskilling of workers, firms in Japan are stepping up efforts to help employees fight rising prices and a labour crunch, even though some cannot afford pay hikes that do more than offset cost-push inflation.

Source: https://www.reuters.com

Japan aims to create new law to better protect freelancers

JHRS — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 06:43:46 GMT

The government plans to speed up efforts to put together a legal framework to improve safeguards for freelancers, who work with no long-term affiliation to one organization or company.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan to Raise Required Employment Rates for Disabled

JHRS — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 09:16:24 GMT

Japan will raise the legally required employment rate for disabled people at companies to 2.5 pct in April 2024 from 2.3 pct at present and to 2.7 pct in July 2026, the labor ministry said Wednesday. Companies and other institutions in the country are required to keep the proportion of workers with disabilities among all employees above a certain rate, which is reviewed every five years.

Source: https://www.nippon.com

More Indonesians in Japan's foreign trainee program amid weak yen

JHRS — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 03:24:23 GMT

The number of Indonesian technical trainees in Japan is rising as the recent slide of the yen against the U.S. dollar and other currencies has discouraged trainees from some other countries to come to Japan.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan gov't to raise employment rate of people with disabilities

JHRS — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 10:16:33 GMT

Japan's labor ministry has decided to raise the statutory employment rate of people with disabilities from 2.3% to 2.7% -- the largest increase since the current system was introduced. The proposal will be presented to the Jan. 18 subcommittee meeting of the Labor Policy Council -- an advisory body to the labor minister.

Source: https://mainichi.jp

Japan considers new child-rearing allowance for nonregular workers

JHRS — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 10:37:21 GMT

The government is considering creating a new child-rearing allowance for nonregular workers, self-employed workers and freelancers, in a bid to address the country's chronically low birthrate. The envisioned allowance is aimed at reducing economic burdens on workers not covered by the country's child care leave system.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan employers to receive tax break for hiring PhD graduates

JHRS — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 00:18:14 GMT

Japan will in April set up a tax incentive for companies that bring on more employees with doctoral degrees, aiming to encourage advanced research and help make businesses more competitive.

Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com

Japan proxy agencies for disabled hires grow as firms try to fill quota

JHRS — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 21:02:11 GMT

Japanese firms have been using proxy agencies to employ people with disabilities, hiring them to work for unrelated farming projects in a move seen as a way to fulfill official disability quotas, according to a welfare ministry probe and a Kyodo News investigation.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

New regional job model for young people under spotlight in Japan

JHRS — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 21:04:47 GMT

A plan first introduced by a remote island town to court urban young people and offer them multiple jobs depending on the season is under the spotlight in Japan as a way to resolve worker shortages in rural areas.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Foreign trainees forced to pay huge fees to mediators

JHRS — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 06:53:22 GMT

Foreign trainees in Japan’s technical intern program come to this nation after paying huge fees to mediation agencies in their home countries, but the actual cost is not clear and some of the fees are suspected to have gone to the Japanese side as kickbacks.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

Reverse trend in teleworking starting to appear in Japan

JHRS — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 21:00:00 GMT

Telework as a concept goes back to the 1970s. The history of work had come, it seemed, full circle – beginning in remote times at home, shifting after long ages to factories, from there to offices, now back home.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan's jobless rate dips to 2.5% in November

JHRS — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 02:47:00 GMT

Japan’s unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from a month ago to 2.5 percent in November, according to official data released on Tuesday. The figure was in line with the market forecast, marking the lowest reading since February 2020.

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/

Japan to accept more workers from Central Asia

JHRS — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 14:41:09 GMT

The government is aiming to bring in more foreign workers from Central Asian countries, partly through the “specified skilled worker program” that allows foreign nationals to do jobs that involve manual work. This move is believed to be aimed at encouraging the self-reliance of the countries — Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan — and at reining in Russia and China, both of which have strong influence over the region.

Source: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/

Foreign workers in Japan form labor union

JHRS — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 14:37:43 GMT

Foreign technical trainees and part-time workers in Japan have formed a labor union to gain greater bargaining power with their employers. The new labor union is being assisted by a non-profit organization that supports Vietnamese people living in Japan.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Japan looks to boost protections for freelancers with new law

JHRS — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 14:31:37 GMT

In Japan, working as a freelancer might have made you seem like a maverick in the past, since the nation’s labor culture has traditionally embraced stability and life-time employment. Yet the situation has changed greatly in recent years, with the country promoting more flexible working styles and encouraging people to take on second jobs. Meanwhile, the spread of remote work due to the pandemic has made it easier for individuals to casually work in their spare time.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Record 34% Japanese gov't male employees take paternity leave in FY 2021

JHRS — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:35:28 GMT

A record 34 percent of Japanese central government male employees took paternity leave in fiscal 2021, up 5 points from a year earlier and topping the 30 percent target the government set by 2025, government data showed Tuesday.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Rengo formalizes plan to demand 5% pay hike

JHRS — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:56:22 GMT

The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, on Thursday formalized a plan to demand a pay hike of around 5% in next year’s shuntō spring labor-management negotiations.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan jobless rate unchanged at 2.6% in Oct.

JHRS — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 05:44:17 GMT

Japan's unemployment rate stayed unchanged in October from the previous month at 2.6 percent in seasonally adjusted terms. The Internal Affairs ministry says the number of jobless people fell below 1.8 million, down for the 16th month in a row. The ministry says more than 67 million people were employed, up by half a million from a year ago. It was the third straight month of increase.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Remote employees in Japan less likely to be depressed

JHRS — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 05:48:19 GMT

The whitepaper found that remote employees tend to have longer hours of sleep, therefore reducing their risk of depression and anxiety. Across 10,000 employees in Japan, 30.3% of employees who worked from home reported sleeping an average of seven hours or more a day. This is followed by those who worked from home about two to three days a week (19.4%), and those who worked from home occasionally (16.7%).

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Skilled foreign workers flocking to urban centers for higher pay

JHRS — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 15:06:52 GMT

Companies in rural areas are struggling to stem the flow of skilled foreign workers to urban centers since a new visa system introduced in 2019 allowed them to switch jobs and work anywhere.

Source: https://www.asahi.com/

Over half of Japan companies suffering from labor shortage: survey

JHRS — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 15:05:13 GMT

Over half of companies in Japan are suffering from a shortage of full-time employees as the country's labor crunch, caused by the aging population but temporarily eased due to the pandemic-induced economic slowdown, is compounded by recovering economic activities, a recent survey found.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan seeks more diversity in employment opportunities

JHRS — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 04:02:16 GMT

The Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) is looking to end the negative image of mid-career hires by rephrasing commonly used employment terms.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Foreign workers in rural Japan lack access to language schools

JHRS — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:08:52 GMT

TOKYO -- Foreign workers in 46% of Japanese municipalities do not have sufficient access to Japanese-language classrooms, as rural areas struggle to procure the necessary number of teachers.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Companies in Japan offer extra pay to help workers deal with inflation

JHRS — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 04:05:07 GMT

Some companies are providing “inflation allowances” to help employees cope with rising consumer prices as labour officials call for more permanent support.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Weak yen could keep foreign workers away from Japan

JHRS — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 05:53:36 GMT

Japan’s foreign workers have found their ability to save and send money home curtailed in recent months as the yen’s rapid slide against the dollar erodes the value of overseas remittances — a cause of concern for the individuals themselves and for some of the nation’s small and medium-size business owners.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's September job availability improves for ninth straight month

JHRS — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 13:47:19 GMT

Japan’s job availability ratio improved for the ninth consecutive month in September as employers looked to hire in preparation for a rebound in inbound tourism sparked by the removal of the nation’s pandemic-related daily arrival cap, government data showed Friday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Inc.'s new-grad hiring set to bounce back from pandemic low

JHRS — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 13:50:50 GMT

TOKYO -- Big Japanese companies are increasing the hiring of college graduates for the first time in four years, a Nikkei survey shows, as the economy recovers from a pandemic slump and a labor shortage intensifies competition for talent.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to allow wages to be paid into digital wallets from April

JHRS — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 13:49:05 GMT

Japan is planning to start allowing companies to pay wages to digital payment apps like PayPay and Rakuten Pay from April, the labor ministry said Wednesday, in a bid to promote cashless payments as a way to stimulate the economy.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Foreign workers shun Japan as yen's value plunges

JHRS — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 05:45:15 GMT

Tokyo-- The yen's sharp drop against the dollar and other currencies is making Japan less attractive to foreign workers, at a time when the average wage of a Japanese worker in dollar terms has fallen 40% the past decade.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan grapples with foreign worker protection as border reopens

JHRS — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 05:50:58 GMT

Tokyo--Complaints of abuses against foreign workers in Japan's government-sponsored internship program are increasing once again as the country opens up to more international arrivals, highlighting flaws in its response five years after enacting a law meant to provide better safeguards.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Half of Japanese Aged 65 to 69 Still in Employment

JHRS — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 05:36:17 GMT

In 2021, the number of employed seniors aged 65 years and over totaled 9.09 million in Japan, rising for the eighteenth consecutive year. According to statistics compiled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the employment rate was 25.1% overall for those aged 65 and over and 50.3% for those between the ages of 65 and 69, which is the first time the employment rate for that age group exceeded 50%.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Foreign students in Japan shy from local employers on language fears

JHRS — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 05:39:31 GMT

Tokyo-- More international students studying in japan want to work at foreign companies here than at homegrown ones, with many doubting their own language skills since coronavirus restrictions severely curtailed social interactions.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Will Japan be able to lure international students back?

JHRS — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 05:38:00 GMT

According to data from the Japan Student Services Organization, the total number of international students decreased from 279,597 in 2019 to 242,440 in 2020 – a reduction rate of 13.3%. In addition, the employment rate of international students in Japan also declined to 39.9% in 2020 compared to 47.6% in 2019.

Source: https://www.universityworldnews.com/

Japan women’s average wage hits record high

JHRS — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 11:56:23 GMT

The average annual wage of female private-sector workers in Japan in 2021 exceeded 3 million yen (US$20,720) for the first time ever, according to a recent National Tax Agency survey. However, the gender wage gap remained large, with last year’s average wage for women, at 3.02 million yen (US$20,858), about 45% less than that for men.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Over 60% of Japan's smaller firms short-staffed after COVID rules ease

JHRS — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 11:53:37 GMT

A total of 2,880 small and medium-sized companies took part in the survey conducted by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, or JCCI, in July and August. Nearly 65 percent said they did not have enough workers. That came close to the record high of 66.4 percent in 2019. The survey started in 2016.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

60 people with disabilities strive for top work skills marks at Japanese 'Abilympics'

JHRS — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 11:51:14 GMT

OITA -- A vocational skills competition for people with disabilities was held here on Oct. 1, with some 60 people from within Oita Prefecture taking part to show off skills acquired through day-to-day work.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Rise of remote work pushes 44% of major Japanese firms to rethink employee transfers

JHRS — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 11:59:43 GMT

Remote working has become much more prevalent in Japan due to the coronavirus pandemic, and ways of working not tied to a specific location are gaining ground. This signals a major transformation of the conventional terms of employment in Japan, as even major firms take a hard look at systems allowing workers to live well outside of commuting distance from their office.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan feels its age with 20 million now over 75

JHRS — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 14:23:37 GMT

Nearly 20 million Japanese people are aged over 75 and account for a 15 per cent of the population while fewer babies are being born than ever before, according to official figures.

Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/

Japan plans to review law to protect freelancers

JHRS — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 14:21:41 GMT

The planned new law will seek to improve the conditions of transactions in which freelancers are involved by requiring companies or organisations that assign work to freelancers to make appropriate payments, for example.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Almost 80% of remote workers think they’d be fired for declining to return to the office

JHRS — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 14:32:25 GMT

Employers polled say they’re prepared to offer flexible scheduling, with 60% saying they would offer hybrid options to employees disinclined to return to in-person work.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s foreign workers face a new post-COVID landscape

JHRS — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 14:31:10 GMT

Tighter border controls amid the pandemic have kept much-needed technical interns and specified skilled workers from entering the country. With restrictions now easing, can the government lure them back?

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Moment of truth as Japan eyes review of foreign 'trainee' workers

JHRS — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:54:44 GMT

In the coming months, the government is expected to review the program, which has been in place for about three decades. It allows foreign nationals to work at Japanese companies as trainees for up to five years and transfer the technical expertise and skills acquired during their stay.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Hiring ratio rises for 7th straight month

JHRS — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:47:45 GMT

The latest data from Japan's government shows companies are having a difficult time hiring workers. The ratio of job openings to seekers has increased for a 7th straight month. The labor ministry says the figure in July ticked up to 1.29. This means there were 129 job openings for every 100 applicants. The ratio was greater than 1 in all prefectures for the first time in over 2 years.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Japan Employment Subsidies Top 6 T. Yen

JHRS — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 04:46:20 GMT

Tokyo, Aug. 29 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government has decided to pay over 6 trillion yen in special subsidies to help firms maintain employment amid the coronavirus crisis, the labor ministry said Monday.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Workers in Japan continue to choose part-time employment

JHRS — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 04:53:25 GMT

Most part-time workers are satisfied with their jobs, with flexible working hours cited as the main reason for wanting a part-time job.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Employees in Japan allowed to take on secondary employment

JHRS — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 15:10:13 GMT

The survey was conducted by Asahi Shimbun, which showed that companies are fine with their staff having a second job so long as they notify or seek permission from the company first to avoid any conflict of interest.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Nearly 14% male workers in Japan took childcare leave in FY2021

JHRS — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 15:18:45 GMT

A government survey shows that the proportion of male workers in Japan who take childcare leave hit a record high in the last fiscal year. But it remains uncertain whether the government's target can be achieved by 2025.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Work stoppages and no chatting at lunch: Japan Inc grapples with COVID

JHRS — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 15:11:33 GMT

Japanese companies are temporarily shutting offices or suspending production as they battle a record wave of COVID-19, disrupting businesses in a country that has until now weathered the pandemic better than most advanced economies.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Employment for non-regular workers in Japan rises

JHRS — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 15:07:03 GMT

Japan’s employment for non-regular employees has risen by 0.9% year-on-year in June to 21.05 million, according to Statistics Japan data. These include temporary workers, dispatch workers, contractors, and part-time workers. Overall, the number of temporary workers rose by 3.9% to 4.49 million.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Abuse of foreign trainees continues in Japan under technical internship program

JHRS — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 06:47:12 GMT

SENDAI (Kyodo) -- Harassment and other abuses of foreign trainees in Japan are mounting, arousing criticism that the supervisory agency in charge of the government-sponsored technical internship program has failed in its role to oversee the program.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Labor crunch risks derailing Japan's stumbling economic recovery

JHRS — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 06:42:05 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan has more job vacancies than applicants, making it a great place to be a job hunter. But a chronic labor shortage, in a country with a shrinking working-age population, is weighing on the prospects for a recovery from the pandemic-induced slowdown.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan firms start providing 'inflation allowance' to workers

JHRS — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 06:43:57 GMT

Companies in Japan are starting to provide “inflation allowance” to employees, in a bid to alleviate workers’ concerns about rising food, electricity and gasoline prices and allow them to focus on work.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Companies in Japan allow employees to postpone retirement

JHRS — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 06:40:18 GMT

The Law on Stabilisation of Employment of Elderly Persons, which requires companies to allow their employees to work until age 65, was amended in April 2021 to encourage businesses to secure opportunities for their employees to work until they reach 70.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Over 80% of university seniors in Japan secure job offers

JHRS — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 10:20:34 GMT

A total of 83.3 percent of university seniors in Japan who are scheduled to graduate next March have secured job offers as of July 1, with the figure almost recovering to pre-pandemic levels, a recent survey found.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan's small cities to draw foreign talent with fast-track residency

JHRS — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 10:16:05 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will make it easier to bring in talented foreign workers to regions outside the metropolitan areas by offering a fast-track path to permanent residency.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Goldman’s womenomics stocks languish in inflation-scared Japan

JHRS — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 10:41:32 GMT

More than two decades after Goldman Sachs Group first championed womenomics in Japan, a basket of shares focusing on the trend is languishing, having hit an all-time relative low in the stock market last month.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

As Japan looks to raise minimum wage, firms say they’ll struggle to pay it

JHRS — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 10:07:33 GMT

With soaring import costs prompting companies to mark up prices, and in the process putting financial pressure on households, it’s becoming more and more crucial that Japan creates momentum toward wage growth.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to recommend that companies disclose side-job policies

JHRS — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 08:03:51 GMT

Japan’s health ministry presented a draft plan on Monday to recommend companies to disclose their policies on whether they allow employees to have side jobs and the conditions for giving them permission.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan firms that embraced remote work rediscover value of the office

JHRS — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 08:00:15 GMT

Outspoken entrepreneur Elon Musk sparked controversy earlier this month when he told Tesla employees they needed to come to the office for at least 40 hours per week or would be expected to leave the company.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Office Staff Work in Dark as Japan Extends Power-Saving Push

JHRS — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 07:58:15 GMT

Japan’s government called for Tokyo residents to continue conserving electricity by switching off the lights as forecasts for further scorching heat threaten to put more pressure on the grid.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com

Japan's NTT to begin remote work as norm for 30,000 employees in July

JHRS — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 08:06:31 GMT

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. will in July begin remote work as its new norm for around 30,000 of its domestic employees, treating attendance as a business trip and allowing for work and commute from anywhere in Japan, even by air, a source familiar with the matter said Saturday.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net

Tight labor market leading to unsavory recruitment tactics in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 04:31:09 GMT

Intense competition among Japanese companies trying to recruit new graduates has led some to engage in drastic and unprofessional tactics in a desperate attempt to lock in students who previously made informal commitments but have begun to waver.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Low IT pay stifles Japan's digital transformation

JHRS — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 04:34:25 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese companies face a serious shortage of skilled tech professionals as rigid seniority systems prevent them offering the kind of pay and packages likely to lure younger IT engineers and other experts.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to support upskilling of one million workers

JHRS — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 08:59:19 GMT

The Japanese government will help about one million workers develop skills and find new jobs as part of efforts to invest more in human resources, highlighted a draft plan.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Japan Set to Make Companies Disclose Gender Pay Gap This Year

JHRS — Tue, 31 May 2022 08:57:35 GMT

Japan will likely require companies to disclose the wage gap between male and female workers from this summer as part of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s New Capitalism plans.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/

Japan wants more workers to move into future growth sectors

JHRS — Mon, 30 May 2022 08:56:02 GMT

The government is seeking to boost labor productivity and make workers more aware of opportunities in these developing industries, such as the digital industry, regardless of whether they currently work for companies in those sectors.

Source: https://www.asahi.com/

Japan women in 30s stay in workforce as parental benefits improve

JHRS — Sat, 28 May 2022 09:01:13 GMT

TOKYO -- Women in their 30s in Japan continue to make progress in workforce participation, greatly flattening their once-pronounced M-shaped dip stemming from pressure to quit jobs and become stay-at-home mothers.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Employment Rate for New College Grads in Japan Falls

JHRS — Fri, 20 May 2022 08:54:12 GMT

The employment rate among people in Japan who graduated from universities in spring this year fell for the second straight year, as businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic reduced hiring, a government survey showed Friday.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japan April service sector sentiment improves - govt

JHRS — Thu, 12 May 2022 11:11:39 GMT

The survey of workers such as taxi drivers, hotel workers and restaurant staff, called "economy watchers" for their proximity to consumer and retail trends, showed their confidence about current economic conditions increased 2.6 points to 50.4.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Firms in Japan adopt flexible working arrangements

JHRS — Tue, 10 May 2022 11:15:25 GMT

Businesses in Japan are now taking steps to accommodate a wide range of flexible working arrangements, and adopting measures like abolishing employee transfers in principle and allowing workers to live anywhere in the country in an effort to attract talent.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

More Japan employers keen on minimum wage hikes

JHRS — Tue, 10 May 2022 11:07:47 GMT

Many firms had been reluctant to accept the wage-hike policy due to the financial burden involved. Related parties are paying close attention whether the trend for receptivity to minimum wage hikes will lead to an increase in wage levels across the board in Japan.

Source: https://www.phnompenhpost.com/

Working from home, Japan’s corporate warriors rethink their priorities

JHRS — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 04:33:12 GMT

In exchange for long hours, personal sacrifices and a prescribed career path, employees would receive job security, a salary and status that rise with age, and the honor of contributing to corporate glory.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/

Japanese traders tapping 'human resources sharing' to motivate employees

JHRS — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 04:23:15 GMT

Major Japanese trading companies have started to use “human resources sharing” programs to motivate employees by allowing them to extend their unique knowledge and skills beyond industry boundaries, for a sense of fulfillment in their work.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Insurance system covering all workers to be discussed in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 04:29:20 GMT

With the enactment of pension system reform-related bills in May 2020, the coverage of the kōsei nenkin public pension program mainly for corporate workers is set to be extended to those working at companies with 51 or more employees in October 2024. Currently, the workforce requirement stands at 501 or more.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Major Japan firms shifting toward more recruitment and post-COVID growth

JHRS — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 04:40:59 GMT

Forty-two percent of major Japanese firms are planning to increase hires of new graduates in fiscal 2023, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday, reflecting more companies projecting a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan February real wage growth stalls as inflation rises

JHRS — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 10:07:20 GMT

The monthly wage report highlights the challenge a sharp rise in global energy and raw material costs poses to households' purchasing power for an economy that has yet to recover to the size it was before the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/

23% of nonpermanent female workers saw income fall amid COVID pandemic: Japan poll

JHRS — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 09:52:51 GMT

The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, known commonly as Rengo, conducted the questionnaire online between Feb. 8 and 10. Responses were gathered from 1,000 nonregular female employees, including part-time workers and nonpermanent contract employees. According to findings announced on March 31, 23% of respondents answered that they saw a decline in income.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Law amendment aims to make paternity leave more accessible in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 10:03:23 GMT

With a low number of men taking paternity leave in Japan, a revised law has taken effect aimed at making child care leave more accessible for fathers and creating a better workplace environment in which they can take it.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's unemployment rate falls as job-seekers stay on the sidelines

JHRS — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 10:08:52 GMT

Japan’s unemployment rate inched down to 2.7% in February, government data showed Tuesday, as a resurgence in coronavirus infections led people to remain in their jobs rather than searching for new employers.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Major Japanese manufacturers offer pay hikes on COVID-19 recovery

JHRS — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 09:15:24 GMT

Major Japanese manufacturers including Hitachi Ltd and Honda Motor Co on Wednesday offered pay hikes following annual wage talks with labor unions as their earnings are recovering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

More Japan firms rely on services to support remote workers' mental health

JHRS — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 09:29:12 GMT

As prolonged teleworking due to the coronavirus pandemic leaves remote workers feeling isolated, an increasing number of Japanese companies are using online services such as personal consultation software to look after their employees' mental wellbeing.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan to allow Ukrainian evacuees to get jobs

JHRS — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 09:20:49 GMT

TOKYO — Ukrainians who have fled to Japan amid Russia’s invasion of their country will be able to get resident status allowing them to work in the Asian country, Japanese Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa said Tuesday.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/

In graying Japan, more companies are making efforts to hire elderly workers

JHRS — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 09:18:45 GMT

The number of companies with a system that enables the employment of people age 70 and over topped 50,000 in 2020. At present, around 675,000 people age 70 or over are working, a figure that has more than doubled over the past four years.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan – Nearly half of employees wish to continue their Covid-19 adapted work style: Persol

JHRS — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 09:27:25 GMT

More than half, or 63.1% of employees in Japan said their working styles have changed since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and among them, those who said that they would like to continue their current working styles is 48.9%, according to a survey from staffing firm Persol Holdings.

Source: https://www2.staffingindustry.com/

Long-term jobless figure hits 4-year high due to pandemic

JHRS — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 07:13:46 GMT

The ranks of the long-term unemployed in Japan, those looking for jobs who remained out of work for a year or longer, hit a four-year high in 2021 based on a monthly average, a survey by the internal affairs ministry showed.

Source: https://www.asahi.com/

Japan group set up to protect gig workers’ rights

JHRS — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 07:12:15 GMT

The Japan Spot Work Association, a group set up by a number of companies, will be setting up guidelines to protect the rights of gig workers. The companies involved in setting up the group include messaging app provider Line, Tsunagu Group, Sharefull, HR Solutions, and Wakrak.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Japan Changes Border Policy, Allows New Entries for Business Purposes Effective March 1

JHRS — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 07:10:17 GMT

Beginning March 1, 2022, Japan will lift the effective ban on new entries of foreign nationals for business purposes and implement new measures designed to allow such new entries under supervision conducted by sponsor organizations over the new entrants. Sponsor organizations typically mean employers of foreign nationals in Japan.

Source: https://www.jdsupra.com/

Universities collaborate to improve Japanese skills of foreign workers

JHRS — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 07:19:20 GMT

Three universities in northeastern Japan formed an alliance with international exchange organizations on Monday to improve Japanese language education for foreign workers and trainees who are helping the nation address its acute labor shortage.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan aims to block sex offenders from jobs in schools, child care

JHRS — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 07:15:17 GMT

Japan is considering requiring those who want a job in child care or education to submit proof that they are not convicted sex offenders, government officials said Monday, as parents have been calling for such a system amid growing cases of children being sexually abused by teachers and babysitters.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan to ease COVID border controls and lift entry quarantine from March

JHRS — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 07:28:48 GMT

Japan is planning to ease its cap on the number of daily new entrants from overseas, introduced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, from the current 3,500 to 5,000 next month, while considering scrapping the strict quarantine requirement upon arrival, a government source has said.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Workplace booster vaccinations kick off in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 07:27:02 GMT

All Nippon Airways Co. and Japan Airlines Co. together administered third shots to 242 of their employees at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. ANA and Japan Airlines said they plan to give the booster to 20,000 and 17,000 of their group employees and others, respectively, over the next few months.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan set to gather foreign worker data for better support

JHRS — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 07:22:52 GMT

The number of foreign workers in Japan rose to a record 1.73 million as of last October amid a workforce shortage, labor ministry data showed, but the government currently has only basic information on them, such as their residency status, nationality and workplace size.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Why Japan's wages aren't rising

JHRS — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:25:19 GMT

According to data by the OECD, the average annual wage in Japan increased until 1997 to $38,395, and then flattened out. Wages have maintained that same level ever since. In 2020, the latest data available, the average Japanese worker made $38,515 (equivalent to about ¥4.45 million based on the current exchange rate.)

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Number of hotel and restaurant workers in Japan fell by 220,000 in 2021

JHRS — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 03:48:24 GMT

The number of people employed in the hotel and restaurant sector in Japan plunged by 220,000 to 3.69 million in 2021 from the previous year, the lowest level since comparable data became available in 2002, the internal affairs ministry said Tuesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's Dec jobless rate falls as monthly employment gain hits near 36-year high

JHRS — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 03:45:19 GMT

A gauge of job availability also rose. The jobs-to-applicants ratio was 1.16 in December, labour ministry data showed, up 0.01 point from the previous month's reading and matching a Reuters poll forecast of 1.16.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Women's working hours underscore gender disparity in Japan

JHRS — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 03:50:10 GMT

TOKYO -- A gender gap is still strongly discernible in Japan's working environment with a bipolarization of working hours among female workers, casting a new shadow over the slowing growth of the Japanese economy.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japanese firms ramp up remote work amid omicron fears

JHRS — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 05:27:39 GMT

In a videoconference Thursday, economic revitalization minister Daishiro Yamagiwa, also in charge of the government’s measures against the virus, asked leaders of the country’s top three business lobbies, including the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, for stepped-up efforts to use remote work further in response to the worsening infection situation.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Yahoo Japan lets staff WFH – and flies hybrid workers into office

JHRS — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 05:38:43 GMT

Yahoo Japan will be giving their employees the freedom to work from anywhere in the country starting this April, according to reports, at the same time increasing the commuting budget for every employee per month. In a report from Bloomberg, the 8,000-strong workplace will be getting an increased commuter budget of JPY150,000 per worker, lifting the company' previous daily cap.

Source: https://www.hcamag.com/

Japan’s Panasonic Joins Global Trend Toward Four-Day Week

JHRS — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 05:29:47 GMT

Panasonic’s move is in line with actions by technology companies worldwide that are trying to attract talent in a tight job market by offering a shorter week. Amazon.com Inc. piloted a four-day week for select employees in 2018, and consumer-goods giant Unilever Plc in December 2020 started a yearlong trial of the shortened week for its New Zealand staff. Countries such as Ireland and Iceland are also trying it out.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/

Labour shortages in Japan overshadow economic recovery

JHRS — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 05:34:51 GMT

Despite a gradual improvement in Japan’s economic conditions, a labour shortage is slowly starting to bite in industries such as restaurants and manufacturing in which many people decided to switch jobs while on furlough amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: https://www.phnompenhpost.com/

Japan's unique recruitment system leaves foreign students behind

JHRS — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 05:32:13 GMT

TOKYO -- A woman in her 20s from Taiwan who had finished her two years at a Japanese graduate school in March landed a new job with a foreign-affiliated company in Tokyo in December. She finally was able to work in finance, as she wanted -- but two years behind other students in her academic year who were already pursuing their own careers.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

18% of Japan’s companies plan to raise salaries by 3% or more

JHRS — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 05:23:44 GMT

Raising pay is one of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s key policy objectives, with the prime minister tweaking tax laws to benefit companies which implement pay hikes.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

More workers in Japan leaving their jobs for better ones

JHRS — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 05:17:57 GMT

In November, the total number of unemployed people increased by 100,000 from the previous month to 1.92 million, rising for the first time in three months, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Japan's college graduate employment rate down for second year amid pandemic

JHRS — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 05:26:06 GMT

A total of 74.2% of those who graduated from college in Japan this March found jobs, down 3.5 percentage points from the previous year for the second straight yearly fall amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to government data.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Inc. grapples with 'right to disconnect' amid telework-fueled boost in work texts

JHRS — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 05:21:18 GMT

TOKYO -- Teleworking practices have spread amid the coronavirus pandemic while communications tools have grown more convenient, and many people may have experienced being fed up of work-related calls and emails while relaxing at home outside working hours. Recently, the right to disconnect, which allows employees to disengage from work, has been gathering attention.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan Employment Adjustment Subsidy Payments Top 5 T. Yen

JHRS — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 16:03:49 GMT

Tokyo, Dec. 13 (Jiji Press)--Japan's labor ministry revealed Monday that the cumulative amount of employment adjustment subsidies provided or set to be provided by the Japanese government has exceeded 5 trillion yen since March 2020.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japan to raise employment insurance premiums

JHRS — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 16:01:29 GMT

The premium rate for the current fiscal year is set at 0.3% of overall wages for employees and 0.6% for employers. The rates were reduced from the original levels of 0.6% for employees and 0.95% for employers, as the system had more than enough reserve funds.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's jobless rate improved to 2.7% in October with lifting of virus emergency

JHRS — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:25:35 GMT

Japan’s jobless rate fell from the previous month to 2.7% in October as numbers of workers in the food service and accommodation sectors increased with the nationwide lifting of coronavirus states of emergency in the reporting month, government data showed Tuesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to Cut Govt Employees' Bonuses

JHRS — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 08:52:44 GMT

The Japanese government decided Wednesday to cut winter bonuses for national public servants, in accordance with recommendations by the National Personnel Authority. The decision was made at meetings of relevant ministers and the cabinet.

Source: https://jen.jiji.com

53.4% of Japan’s workers satisfied with job change

JHRS — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 08:56:31 GMT

The recently released survey conducted by the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry found that 53.4% of respondents said they are satisfied with their new jobs, while 11.4% said they are not.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

More than half in Japan happy to have switched jobs, survey shows

JHRS — Sun, 21 Nov 2021 08:50:58 GMT

Among respondents who made a switch between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020, 53.4% said they are satisfied with their new jobs, while 11.4% said they are not, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry survey released earlier this month.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan considers letting more skilled foreign workers stay indefinitely

JHRS — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 08:54:42 GMT

Japan is considering expanding the scope of fields for foreign workers skilled in specific blue-collar jobs that will allow them to stay in the country indefinitely, the justice minister said Friday. The move aims to address a severe labor shortage in Japan faced with a rapidly graying population and declining birth rate.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan's Recruit, the world’s top job finder, wants to get rid of resumes

JHRS — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 08:58:03 GMT

Despite the acute need for workers, “the hiring process is still resumes, sending resumes, checking resumes,” said Hisayuki “Deko” Idekoba, chief executive officer of Japan’s Recruit Holdings Co., which runs Indeed.com and Glassdoor. “This is a great opportunity for us to move forward from old-school, incumbent resume-profile culture to asking: What can you do?”

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Government panel proposes more support for Japanese firms hiking wages

JHRS — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 07:27:47 GMT

An economic policy panel of the government has proposed a fresh stimulus package to get the coronavirus-hit economy back in shape, including beefing up support for companies actively raising employee wages.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Nov. 8 lifting of entry ban for business trips, students, interns

JHRS — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 07:31:27 GMT

The steps take effect Nov. 8. Those who enter Japan with vaccination certifications will be allowed to self-quarantine for much shorter periods. But companies and organizations sponsoring the visitors will be obliged to account for their actions beyond the shorter quarantines.

Source: https://www.asahi.com/

How COVID contributed to a worrying spike in female suicides in Japan

JHRS — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 07:22:46 GMT

The major daily newspaper Nikkei noted that the sharpest rises in female suicides were among clerical workers (270 deaths, up from the five-year average of 204); other service-sector workers, at 194; sales clerks, at 133; and health care workers, at 174.

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/

Japan's September job availability rises ahead of economic restart

JHRS — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 07:34:19 GMT

The job-to-applicant ratio rose to 1.16 from the previous month’s figure of 1.14, down 0.1 point from July, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The ratio means there were 116 job openings for every 100 job seekers.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Pandemic opens doors to switch jobs in Japan, but pay not rising much

JHRS — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 06:20:36 GMT

TOKYO, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The COVID-19 pandemic has unexpectedly helped Japan's nursing homes and information technology (IT) companies overcome years of labour shortages, as job cuts at restaurants and hotels have prompted workers to look for new careers.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Online tours offer rare benefit for Japan's pandemic-hit travel industry

JHRS — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 09:33:47 GMT

Online tours in Japan arranged by travel vendors in an attempt to address restrictions on overseas travel amid the coronavirus pandemic are catching on among people looking for easy and inexpensive ways to experience a bit of the unusual.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Welfare consultations tripled in fiscal 2020 as COVID-19 crisis swept Japan

JHRS — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 09:23:48 GMT

In a survey, more than 80% of 507 responding local governments said the number of consultations had increased from self-employed people, as well as nonregular workers who were dismissed or failed to extend their contracts.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Over 370,000 foreigners waiting to enter Japan due to COVID curbs

JHRS — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 09:27:23 GMT

TOKYO — There are more than 370,000 foreign nationals who cannot enter Japan despite having precertification for residence status as of Oct. 1 due to border controls aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19, Nikkei has learned.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Report touts benefits of secondary jobs for Japanese workers, firms

JHRS — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 08:40:27 GMT

Japan's largest business lobby recently released a report it says shows the benefits that can come from allowing people to take on secondary employment, with the arrangement delivering a happier and more productive workforce while addressing some of the nation's demographic challenges.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan's workers see bump in wages in August

JHRS — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 09:31:46 GMT

The labor ministry says average cash earnings per worker was nearly 275,000 yen, or about 2,460 dollars. That includes basic salary and overtime pay. The figure is up 0.7 percent in yen terms from August 2020, marking the sixth-straight month of increase.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Japan: ‘Male Maternity Leave': New Flexible Childcare Leave For Employees In Japan

JHRS — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 08:32:01 GMT

New provisions will allow employees in Japan to take leave after the birth of a child in more flexible ways. Employers will also be required to encourage employees to take child care leave. The new provisions are, among other things, designed to encourage more men to take child care leave.

Source: https://www.mondaq.com/

Japanese companies struggle to hire, retain staff as labor shortage worsens

JHRS — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 08:47:21 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Companies in Japan’s service industries are struggling to hire and retain staff as the labor market becomes the tightest in decades, and are increasingly taking unorthodox steps to alleviate the shortage.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Japan races to hire 270,000 artificial intelligence engineers

JHRS — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 08:36:22 GMT

TOKYO -- Already behind other countries in nurturing the IT professionals indispensable to a digital transformation, Japan in 2030 is expected to have 270,000 artificial intelligence and Internet of Things jobs that it will be unable to fill.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Registration at elderly job agencies hits 19-year low in Japan

JHRS — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:31:20 GMT

The number of elderly people registered with public entities that offer easy jobs for people aged 60 or older has dropped below 700,000 for the first time in 19 years, as senior citizens are opting for higher wages amid a surge in hiring.

Source: https://the-japan-news.com/

Senior Workers in Japan Say No Problem to Paperless Offices and Younger Bosses

JHRS — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 09:29:19 GMT

As Japan grays, seniors are becoming an important asset for companies. A survey sought to find if they feel they can adapt to changes in the times, like the introduction of IT and paperless offices.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japan firms to jointly develop human rights app for foreign workers

JHRS — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 09:41:48 GMT

More than 200 Japanese companies and organizations, including Toyota Motor Corp. and retail giant Aeon Co., will jointly develop a smartphone app to protect the human rights of foreign workers, an official of the Japan International Cooperation Agency said Monday.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japanese employees exploring new work options amid coronavirus pandemic

JHRS — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 09:34:13 GMT

The way employees work has become more diverse and fluid amid the protracted coronavirus pandemic, leading to new work styles as an increasing number of people are on loan, taking second jobs or switching companies entirely.

Source: https://the-japan-news.com/

Nearly 10% of Japan firms to add regular staff after minimum pay hike

JHRS — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 06:32:41 GMT

The survey by Tokyo Shoko Research appears to show that more employers are deciding it’s better to shift their labor force to nonfixed-term regular workers, given that it would be more costly for them to employ fixed-term, nonregular staff who are paid by the hour.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan turns to tech to help foreign blue-collar workers

JHRS — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 10:15:39 GMT

TOKYO -- A public and private group in Tokyo will trial a smartphone app that allows foreign blue-collar workers to file complaints and report problems. The app will recognize any issues, including those related to visas, working conditions, housing and taxation.]

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Many Japan firms hesitant to push their employees to receive COVID-19 vaccine

JHRS — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 06:28:29 GMT

Many companies in Japan are being careful not to push employees to get COVID-19 vaccines, fearing that it would put those not wanting to be vaccinated at a disadvantage, while some firms are giving out stickers or tags to vaccinated employees.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan's overworking problem: A probe into 24,000 Japanese workplaces revealed that 37% had violated overtime laws

JHRS — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:06:36 GMT

Probes by Japanese authorities into overwork complaints at 24,042 workplaces revealed that 37% of these companies had employees working 45 hours a month or more in overtime, the country's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare reported last Friday.

Source: https://www.insider.com/

COVID-19 and Japan’s shifting labour market flexibility

JHRS — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 09:03:53 GMT

The Japanese labour market has undergone significant change since the early 2010s when the baby boomer generation began to retire, expanding opportunities for women, the elderly and other groups. But COVID-19’s economic impact is challenging the gains of the past decade. The employment rate has reversed its upward trend, declining along with salaries and hours worked, while unemployment rose from 2.4 per cent in 2019 to 2.9 per cent in June 2020.

Source: https://www.eastasiaforum.org

Japan’s optional four-day week divides workers

JHRS — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 09:05:17 GMT

In June 2021, Japan’s Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy promoted plans for an optional four-day workweek in its annual economic policy guideline. While the policy creates substantial employment benefits for Japan’s aging workforce, the announcement has divided Japanese workers.

Source: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/

Leave for fertility treatment to be created for govt workers

JHRS — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 09:29:34 GMT

The National Personnel Authority said that five days of paid leave per year will be introduced for government workers to allow them to receive fertility treatment while working. Another five days will be given for treatment requiring patients to see a doctor frequently, including in vitro fertilization.

Source: https://the-japan-news.com/

Telework from Okinawa? Japan's remote-friendly job listings surge

JHRS — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 09:26:24 GMT

TOKYO -- With the protracted pandemic forcing businesses to embrace telecommuting and other flexible arrangements, more Japanese employers are scrapping geographical requirements for workers, particularly in hotly competitive fields like engineering and online sales.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's June jobless rate improves to 2.9% as virus step eased

JHRS — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 09:20:03 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's unemployment rate fell to 2.9 percent in June, reflecting a pickup in hiring at restaurants and retailers hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic as the state of emergency was lifted in some areas, government data showed Friday.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan Employment Adjustment Subsidy Payments Top 4 T. Yen

JHRS — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:22:09 GMT

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)--The cumulative amount of employment adjustment subsidies provided or set to be provided by the Japanese government to help businesses fight the COVID-19 pandemic has exceeded 4 trillion yen, according to the labor ministry.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

'Telework fatigue' sees more Japanese workers going back to the office

JHRS — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 08:57:34 GMT

The proportion of people in Japan who are working fully remotely fell from the rate in April, a survey by the Japan Productivity Center has shown, as a trend of “telework fatigue” appears to be emerging. More people are finding efficiency to be an issue with telework and satisfaction has also deteriorated even as the government calls for people to work mainly from home under the latest COVID-19 state of emergency, the center said Friday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Women hold only 5.9% of director-level jobs in Japan government

JHRS — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 07:56:02 GMT

Women held just 5.9 percent of director-level jobs in the Japanese government's offices in Tokyo in fiscal 2020, underscoring the country's slow progress in closing the gender gap in the workplace. The Cabinet Office released data Thursday showing the share of such positions held by female public servants only rose 0.6 percentage points from the previous year, falling short of the government's target of 7 percent.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan's jobless rate hit five-month high in May as virus emergencies extended

JHRS — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 07:46:10 GMT

Japan's unemployment rate worsened to 3.0% in May, hitting the highest level in five months, as a government-declared state of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic was extended to more of the country, official data showed Tuesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Companies give vaccines to workers, boosting Japan’s rollout

JHRS — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 10:01:57 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Thousands of Japanese companies began distributing COVID-19 vaccines to workers and their families Monday in an employer-led drive reaching more than 13 million people that aims to rev up the nation’s slow vaccine rollout.

Source: https://apnews.com/

Japan to start vaccinations at workplaces and university campuses

JHRS — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 08:57:26 GMT

While the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions remain the priority, the Japanese government plans to provide coronavirus vaccinations at workplaces and university campuses from June 21 to speed up the national rollout. It started accepting applications from potential hosts on June 8.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Millions of missing jobs should make inflation hawks think twice

JHRS — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 08:35:21 GMT

The global employment shortfall from the pandemic is predicted by the International Labour Organization to be 75 million this year. Nor does it expect the gap to be closed in 2022, when it reckons the world will still be 23 million jobs short of its pre-COVID-19 path even as economies rebound.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Workers in Japan offered early retirement tops 10,000 as pandemic drags on

JHRS — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 08:47:43 GMT

A growing number of companies are moving to trim their workforces as the coronavirus pandemic drags on. The situation will get worse if the pandemic continues to strip businesses of their strength, even though consumption is likely to recover as the vaccination rollout progresses.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's older workers have fewer friends but more motivated to work than peers abroad

JHRS — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 08:42:53 GMT

The government released its Annual Report on the Aging Society on Friday, with results indicating Japanese people age 60 or older may be feeling more lonely than their counterparts in three other surveyed countries — the United States, Germany and Sweden — as the pandemic takes away opportunities to socialize.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Hundreds of companies in Japan apply for on-site vaccinations

JHRS — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 08:56:03 GMT

Japan’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts received another boost Tuesday as major companies and universities filed for permission to vaccinate employees, staff and students at more than 400 workplaces and campuses, possibly starting later this month.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

As the vaccine rollout picks up speed, Japan turns to private sector for added boost

JHRS — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 08:01:56 GMT

The central government will subsidize ¥2,070 for each vaccine dose administered by large companies with over 1,000 employees, said Taro Kono, the minister in charge of the country's vaccine rollout, on Wednesday during a virtual meeting with the National Governors’ Association. Large companies should begin administering shots before they receive compensation, Kono added.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to kick off workplace vaccinations with 50m doses

JHRS — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 08:00:20 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will start vaccinating the general public starting June 21, enlisting companies and universities to administer the shots using 50 million surplus doses it expects to have by the end of the month.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's 'silver workers' plug employment gap

JHRS — Fri, 28 May 2021 07:56:31 GMT

A lot of retirees in Japan are stepping on the gas again and going back to work. The "silver workers" are highly welcome because the country's population is aging and there aren't enough young people to do the jobs.

Source: https://www.dw.com/

Foreign students in Japan hunt online for jobs amid pandemic

JHRS — Thu, 27 May 2021 09:03:50 GMT

With the coronavirus pandemic adding to the challenge of finding work in a foreign country, overseas students in Japan have taken to visiting online job-information fairs, events that also give companies in rural areas access to a more diverse range of candidates.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese companies introducing vaccine leave for workers

JHRS — Thu, 20 May 2021 03:14:59 GMT

More companies across Japan are introducing arrangements designed to let their employees take paid time off to receive COVID-19 vaccines and deal with any potential side-effects.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

96% of new university graduates in Japan find employment

JHRS — Tue, 18 May 2021 03:18:10 GMT

The proportion of new university graduates in Japan who had secured jobs as of April 1 stood at 96.0%, down 2.0 percentage points from a year before, a survey by the labor and education ministries showed Tuesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Implementation of Telework in Japan Continues to Lag

JHRS — Wed, 12 May 2021 05:22:00 GMT

The Japan Productivity Center has been conducting regular surveys since May 2020 to assess attitudes and work styles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent survey, conducted on April 12 and 13, 2021, revealed that fewer people are teleworking even as authorities call on firms and employees to adopt remote work.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japan wages remain under pressure amid pandemic

JHRS — Fri, 07 May 2021 07:57:21 GMT

The pandemic continued to take its toll on Japanese workers' wages in March, with part-timers suffering a bigger impact. The labor ministry released preliminary figures on Friday. They show that the average income for full-time employees for the month fell 0.3 percent from a year earlier to 365,804 yen. That's about 3,350 dollars.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

'Remaining silent in online meetings' bothers teleworkers in Japan the most: poll

JHRS — Fri, 07 May 2021 07:55:20 GMT

TOKYO -- "Remaining completely silent in online meetings" has come out on top in a Tokyo company's poll on the most bothersome behavior in remote working environments -- perhaps a warning to some engaging in online meetings as more companies introduce teleworking systems amid the spread of the coronavirus.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan to promote relocations outside of Tokyo without changing jobs

JHRS — Mon, 03 May 2021 05:05:42 GMT

Teleworking will help people move to other parts of the country, said Hiroya Masuda, president and CEO of Japan Post Holdings Co., who heads an advisory panel to the government.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to boost aid for firms with large facilities under COVID-19 emergency

JHRS — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 08:00:11 GMT

The government will extend until the end of June its employment adjustment subsidy program for companies in areas covered by the emergency that put staff on paid leave amid the pandemic. It was set to end on Friday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Remote working in Japan limited mainly to office staff, survey finds

JHRS — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 08:03:33 GMT

Many companies in Japan have introduced remote working since the coronavirus reached the country's shores early last year, but those regularly working from home and elsewhere has been limited mainly to office staff.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Government seeks safety guarantee in Japan's digital wage payout plan

JHRS — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 05:34:20 GMT

The labor ministry on Monday proposed reforms that would create a system within the current fiscal year to allow companies to pay salaries in digital money, a further step in government efforts to introduce digital payrolls and promote a cashless society.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Major firms in Japan to hire fewer graduates next year amid pandemic

JHRS — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 05:27:52 GMT

Some 22% of major companies in Japan are planning to cut new hires for the business year starting next April compared to the current year, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday. The findings indicate that many firms remain cautious about the outlook amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Labour union in Japan calls for raise in minimum wage of essential workers

JHRS — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 05:24:58 GMT

This comes as the country starts its fiscal year when negotiations about minimum wages are discussed. Japan’s financial year is from 1 April to 31 March.

Source: https://hrmasia.com/

Pandemic-linked job losses top 100,000 in Japan, rebounding amid fourth wave

JHRS — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 05:37:19 GMT

After posting up to around 10,000 dismissals and terminations each month through August 2020, dismissals and contract terminations somewhat decreased to about 5,000 to 6,000 per month in autumn and later. But the figure rebounded above 9,000 in March this year, the final month of fiscal 2020.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

More workers at Japanese airlines seconded amid pandemic

JHRS — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 06:42:48 GMT

Major Japanese airlines, struggling with weak passenger traffic amid the coronavirus pandemic, have started seconding more employees to other companies and organizations. Beginning in April, Japan Airlines increased the number of seconded employees to about 1,400 per day from 1,000.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan jobless rate unchanged at 2.9% as policy shift looms

JHRS — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 05:40:21 GMT

The unemployment rate has been on the rise, from an average of 2.4% in 2019 to 2.8% in 2020, though the increase has been cushioned by the government’s paycheck protection program, under which businesses that keep workers on the payroll receive subsidies.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan firms slow to introduce support for fertility treatment

JHRS — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 05:37:46 GMT

People receiving fertility treatment in Japan are having difficulty balancing their work with therapy, with Japanese companies slow to introduce support measures for employees undergoing such treatment, according to a health ministry survey.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's February job availability logs first fall in five months

JHRS — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 05:30:27 GMT

Japan’s job availability logged its first drop in five months in February amid the government’s second state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Tuesday. The job-to-applicant ratio worsened to 1.09 from 1.10 in January, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, meaning that there were 109 job openings for every 100 job seekers. But it was still higher than 1.05 marked in December.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Lingering virus crisis to affect hiring of Japan's new graduates

JHRS — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 06:49:48 GMT

The number of companies planning to take on more new graduates in spring 2022 than in 2021 stood at only eight, down from 10 for this year and hitting the lowest level in 12 years. The latest survey covered 100 major companies, with 66 of them disclosing their hiring plans.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

COVID-19 cuts jobs, boosts stocks, widening economic gap in Japan

JHRS — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 05:32:57 GMT

The coronavirus pandemic has brought significant economic impacts in Japan, with the widening gap between the rich and the poor being a prime example. The pandemic has cost many jobs, especially in the dining and travel industries, while stock and other asset markets are booming on the back of global monetary easing.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan Firms Slow to Embrace Law Urging Employment until 70

JHRS — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 05:27:54 GMT

Tokyo, March 26 (Jiji Press)--The revised law for the stable employment of elderly workers is set to take effect in Japan next Thursday, the first day of April and fiscal 2021, obliging companies to make efforts to continue employing staff until they reach 70 years old.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

80% of workers in Japan's creative industries have been harassed within last decade

JHRS — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 06:54:53 GMT

Many of the 1,195 people reporting abuse in the survey, which was conducted from December to January and covered 1,449 people, were women, young people or freelancers. Their areas of work ranged from anime and the fine arts, to movies and theater.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Ministry probes Japan's Kagawa University over 400 part-time lecturers on service contracts

JHRS — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 05:08:40 GMT

TAKAMATSU -- The education ministry has begun investigating Kagawa University in western Japan following the finding that it has left classes in the hands of about 400 part-time lecturers working under service contracts, university and other sources have disclosed.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan Inc offers lowest pay rises in 8 years as pandemic bites

JHRS — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 05:12:13 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese companies are offering the lowest wage increases in eight years as labour talks wrap up on Wednesday, in a sign the COVID-19 pandemic is putting an end to the benefits brought on by former premier Shinzo Abe’s stimulus policies.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Japan's media urged to address gender imbalance after Olympic sexism uproar

JHRS — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 05:53:29 GMT

After a public uproar over sexist remarks led to the resignation of the Tokyo Olympics chief in February, and prompted renewed calls for gender equality in Japan, the mass media industry is now facing questions over whether it can address an overwhelming dominance of male perspectives its own structure and output.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan adds female executives but they take only 8% of board seats

JHRS — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 05:43:51 GMT

Tokyo-- Japanese businesses have made progress in naming more women who have risen through the ranks to executive positions, but female participation in management still falls far short of levels in Western nations.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan jobless rate edges down despite COVID emergency

JHRS — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 03:06:57 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's jobless rate stood at 2.9% in January, compared with 3.0% in December, the Statistics Bureau said Tuesday, as strong government spending underpinned the economy amid a coronavirus state of emergency imposed since early in the year.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

JAL to slash hiring of new graduates by 90% in 2022 due to pandemic

JHRS — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 05:54:44 GMT

Japan Airlines Co. said Thursday it will slash its hiring of new graduates in fiscal 2022 by 90% from the number that joined JAL group companies last spring, as the coronavirus pandemic is expected to continue putting pressure on travel demand.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Pandemic Leads to Fewer Japanese Companies Planning to Recruit Foreign Workers

JHRS — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 05:25:02 GMT

Recruitment and career development company Disco conducted a survey in December 2020 aimed at major companies in Japan, asking about hiring of highly qualified foreign workers. Of the 494 companies that responded, 35.4% recruited international students in 2020, indicating a slight increase from the previous year.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Coronavirus disinfection workers face discrimination and unreasonable conditions in Japan

JHRS — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 05:26:47 GMT

TOKYO -- Businesses that disinfect offices and other facilities where people have been confirmed to have COVID-19 in Japan are slammed with work these days. It's a job that's indispensable in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus, but because it requires expertise, it's not a job that many are engaged in.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Ratio of Job Openings to Applicants Plunges in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 05:21:51 GMT

The spread of COVID-19 infections has worsened corporate performance in Japan. The number of job seekers is on the rise amid the increase in layoffs and furloughs, while the number of offers is falling. With no end to the pandemic in sight, the tough employment market seems likely to continue.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Labor ministry to expand scope of virus relief to cover nonregular workers

JHRS — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 07:11:47 GMT

Many nonregular, or contract, workers at large companies in Japan have not received compensation from their employers, despite being forced to take leave amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, prompting Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday to vow to end such discriminatory treatment.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Foreign workers hit hard by pandemic despite record number

JHRS — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 07:09:34 GMT

The economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on the employment and daily lives of foreign workers in Japan, despite their number hitting a record high of around 1.72 million in 2020.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Nonregular workers at big firms left out of virus-related benefits

JHRS — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 07:15:48 GMT

Tokyo--Many nonregular workers at large companies in Japan have not received compensation from their employers despite being forced to take leave amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, prompting Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to vow Thursday to end such discriminatory treatment.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan's local governments rush to prepare for vaccinations

JHRS — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 04:54:21 GMT

The Japanese government plans to start the vaccination in late February. About 10,000 to 20,000 medical professionals will be first in line for inoculation, followed by other medical workers, older people and people with underlying conditions, and other citizens.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

ANA to offer employees leave for up to 2 years

JHRS — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 04:51:53 GMT

TOKYO--All Nippon Airways Co will introduce in April a sabbatical system that will allow its employees to pursue personal interests such as studying for up to two years, company officials said Tuesday, as travel demand plunges amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Over 18,000 workers offered early retirement

JHRS — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 04:50:16 GMT

A survey shows companies in Japan asked at least 18,000 employees to take voluntary retirement last year, as the coronavirus pandemic battered businesses.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Can Japan raise its teleworking game under the second COVID-19 emergency?

JHRS — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 08:48:33 GMT

A key measure in the nation’s second state of emergency, declared by the government for Tokyo and neighboring prefectures to curb rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, is preventing workers from congregating at offices, which is thought to make it more likely for them to go out and dine after hours.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Job-Based Employment Expanding among Japan Electronics Makers

JHRS — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 08:43:05 GMT

The job-based employment system, which is mainstream in the United States and Europe, is spreading in Japan as it has become necessary for companies operating globally to unify their systems at home and abroad.

Source: https://jen.jiji.com

Info on school jobs in Japan to be opened to companies

JHRS — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:45:43 GMT

The Japanese education ministry has opened a section on its website providing information on jobs at schools in the country as a way of supporting efforts to maintain employment by companies affected by the fallout of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Coronavirus:Japan could declare state of emergency for Tokyo area this week

JHRS — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 06:03:51 GMT

TOKYO - Japan could declare another state of emergency in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures in the near future to curb the spread of the coronavirus as infections have continued rising, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga suggested Monday.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Corporate camping dispels pandemic gloom for Japan's workers

JHRS — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 06:02:10 GMT

TOKYO -- Shall we roast marshmallows at the meeting? With camping more popular amid the coronavirus pandemic, a company in Japan is bringing business to the great outdoors via work and team-building venues at campsites.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan eyes more flexible paternity leave after childbirth

JHRS — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 06:05:48 GMT

Japan is planning to introduce a system of more flexible paternity leave that can be taken soon after childbirth to raise the persistently low rate of men taking such leave and lessen the burden on their partners, officials said Thursday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Job hoppers decline in Japan amid pandemic-hit economy

JHRS — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 06:20:21 GMT

The coronavirus has led to job losses in the food service industry, and although growing sectors such as high tech and finance have the capacity to absorb more workers, the different knowledge and skills required have prevented people from changing careers.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Job-seeking high school students in Japan hit record low

JHRS — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 06:21:49 GMT

The number of students who are set to graduate from high schools next spring and were seeking jobs as of the end of October fell 10.1% from the end of September last year to 152,402, hitting the lowest level ever, a labor ministry survey showed Tuesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Nomura to Introduce Permanent Flexible Work for Japan Employees

JHRS — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 03:46:17 GMT

(Bloomberg) -- Nomura Holdings Inc. plans to make flexible work permanent for employees in Japan once the pandemic ends, underscoring how the health crisis may hasten changes to work styles in the nation.

Source: https://www.bloombergquint.com/

Japan to loosen work rules on foreign nationals stuck due to pandemic

JHRS — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 03:45:06 GMT

Japan is loosening regulations on part-time work for foreign nationals stuck in the country due to the novel coronavirus and having trouble supporting themselves, the government said Tuesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese government conducts unified tests to hire workers from 'ice age' generation

JHRS — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 03:43:04 GMT

The government’s unified examinations for hiring midcareer workers as national public servants in fiscal 2021 started Sunday in nine cities across the country.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s biggest union to demand wage raises amid pandemic

JHRS — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 06:01:55 GMT

Union chief Rikio Kozu, in an interview Tuesday, indicated he’ll push for a 4% wage increase, including base pay, even though rising waves of the coronavirus are darkening the outlook for employers.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

‘Inclusion’ the watchword as Japan tackles trainees’ isolation

JHRS — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 06:14:28 GMT

Foreign workers are becoming more essential to aging Japan, but they can be vulnerable in an unfamiliar land, so various stakeholders — the central government, municipalities, companies and support groups — need to work more closely together to foster a more inclusive environment.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's next graduates face tougher job hunt

JHRS — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 06:07:33 GMT

Just 69.8 percent had job offers as of October 1, down 7 points from the same time in 2019. That marks the largest yearly decline in October data since a record-drop in 2009 due to the global financial crisis.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Japan's aid agency launches support body for foreign workers

JHRS — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 06:00:04 GMT

Tokyo--The Japan International Cooperation Agency on Monday launched an organization to provide better support for foreign workers in Japan as part of its goal of resolving the societal issues they face by 2030.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Pandemic spurs idle workers in Japan to engage in moonlighting

JHRS — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 06:25:25 GMT

Since the collapse of the economic bubble of the early 1990s and accompanying decline in traditional employment practices, more workers have justified moonlighting as a stepping stone to a different career, which enabled them to first test their aptitude in another occupation before taking the plunge.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan univ., job office to help foreign students find employment

JHRS — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 06:32:30 GMT

Tokyo-- A Japanese university and a public job placement office in Tokyo signed an accord Thursday to support foreign students seeking jobs in Japan -- the first such agreement concluded in the country.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan's September job availability lowest in nearly 7 years

JHRS — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 07:40:24 GMT

Japan's job availability fell to its lowest level in almost seven years in September, with many returning to the labor market following a gradual resumption of economic activity that had been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Friday.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Less than 20% of Japan company workers telecommute

JHRS — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 07:20:34 GMT

A new survey shows only a small number of people in Japan are getting the safety benefits of working from home. It found that less than 20 percent were telecommuting despite calls to do so to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Japan employment remains weak as service sector cuts back

JHRS — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 07:14:56 GMT

TOKYO -- The jobless rate in Japan stood at 3.0% in September, unchanged from August, data from the Statistics Bureau showed on Friday, in the latest sign of an uneven recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's aid agency to launch support body for foreign workers

JHRS — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 07:27:00 GMT

The Japan International Cooperation Agency said Wednesday it will launch an organization next month to provide comprehensive support for foreign workers in Japan to improve their working and living environments.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Survey Finds 28% of New Employees in Japan Plan to Leave Company Within Three Years

JHRS — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 07:16:46 GMT

A survey of new employees in Japan found that approximately half want to quit their company within 10 years and less than 20% plan to stay with the same employer until they retire.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japanese theme park offering ‘amusement workation’ for remote workers

JHRS — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 05:04:58 GMT

On Thursday, Yomiuriland, an amusement park in Tokyo, launched an “amusement workation” package to include a working booth next to its pool and a ride on its observation ferris wheel with a portable WiFi router.

Source: https://nypost.com/

Japan's top court rules against denying allowances to fixed-term employees

JHRS — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 05:02:17 GMT

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that it is unreasonable for Japan Post Co. not to provide its fixed-term employees with the same allowances it pays to regular workers. The top court's judgment in favor of nonregular workers came two days after it ruled against them in two other cases over a law that prohibits unreasonable gaps between the treatment of such employees and regular workers.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Interest in nursing care jobs grows in Japan as pandemic drags on

JHRS — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 04:54:27 GMT

The nursing care industry, meanwhile, is hoping the trend will help it cope with one of the worst labor crunches affecting any sector of the Japanese economy, with more than four times as many jobs available as applicants.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Mizuho employees to get option to work three days a week, but with reduced salary

JHRS — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 10:09:49 GMT

Mizuho Financial will be the first among the nation's megabanks to implement a permanent system allowing employees to take three or more days off every week. The group is adopting diverse work styles in response to the pandemic.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Virus wrecks once-in-a-lifetime job chance for Japan’s new grads

JHRS — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 10:04:11 GMT

Big companies have long preferred to hire and train newly minted college grads right out of school. About 70 percent of open jobs went to new college grads in 2018, and once hired, they stay: one in four Japanese workers has been in his job for more than 20 years.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Foreign workers in Japan seek help as pandemic worsens job situation

JHRS — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 10:12:05 GMT

Workers from foreign countries are seeing a tougher employment environment due to the pandemic, which had eliminated more than 50,000 jobs for them by the end of August.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Nearly all of Japan's male government workers with new babies plan paternity leave

JHRS — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 05:59:29 GMT

Nearly all men working for Japan’s government whose wives recently gave birth plan to take paternity leave, according to a recent survey, amid a push to allow for more family time in a nation known for chronic overwork.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

42% of Japan companies actively promote women to key posts: survey

JHRS — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 05:18:33 GMT

Tokyo-- Only 42.6 percent of companies in Japan are actively promoting women to managerial positions, down 7.4 points from last year, according to a recent private survey.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

More Japanese firms giving employees telework allowances

JHRS — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 05:51:10 GMT

Many companies in Japan are introducing employee allowances to cover costs related to teleworking, such as utility fees and internet charges, as remote working increases amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Over 50,000 workers in Japan dismissed due to pandemic

JHRS — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 06:14:48 GMT

The number of people dismissed from their jobs due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic totaled 50,326 in Japan as of Monday, the government said Tuesday. The number of such people — mainly so-called nonregular workers, a category that includes those with low-paying, part-time jobs — grew by more than 10,000 every month between May and July, and by 9,000 in August, according to a labor ministry survey.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to allow stranded foreign tech interns to switch jobs

JHRS — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 04:29:35 GMT

Japan will allow foreign trainees who are unable to return home amid the coronavirus pandemic even after their technical internship programs have ended to switch jobs and stay in the country from early September, the government said Tuesday.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan embraces 'workations' to revive tourist economy

JHRS — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 04:28:05 GMT

TOKYO -- Bright sunlight and a distant horizon were the first sight that greeted Masashi Arai each morning from his hotel window in the seaside town of Toba, in central Japan, a stark contrast from the steel and glass towers Arai normally sees from his Tokyo Bay office -- and the perfect place to combine six weeks of work and leisure.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to extend special employment subsidy for firms - media

JHRS — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 04:23:09 GMT

TOKYO, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Japan’s labour ministry is working to extend a special employment subsidy to help firms hit by the coronavirus pandemic that would keep furloughed workers on the payroll, the Nikkei business daily reported on Wednesday.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Japan set to grant reentry to foreign residents

JHRS — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 05:07:17 GMT

The Japanese government will allow the reentry of some foreign nationals with residence status, starting on August 5. Japan currently denies entry of foreigners from 146 countries and regions as part of anti-coronavirus measures. Foreign residents are also barred from reentering Japan once they leave the country, unless there are special circumstances.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Japanese least satisfied with work environments amid pandemic: survey

JHRS — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 05:04:51 GMT

Japanese employees were the least satisfied with their work environments in terms of novel coronavirus measures according to a soon-to-be-released six-nation survey, which Jiji Press reported Wednesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan retailer pushes limit of retirement age, making 80 the new 65

JHRS — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 05:09:28 GMT

TOKYO -- Electronics retailer Nojima has decided to let employees work until they are 80 years old if they choose to, raising its retirement age from 65 to retain experienced workers in a graying Japan.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Cardboard shields Japan's workers where telework is not an option

JHRS — Sat, 25 Jul 2020 05:12:10 GMT

OSAKA -- When 15 employees in the credit risk analysis division at Kansai Mirai Bank returned to their downtown Osaka office for the first time in three months on July 10, they sat at desks separated by cardboard partitions.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

32,000 workers in Japan fired amid pandemic

JHRS — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 10:43:08 GMT

Ministry officials counted 32,348 such workers from the end of January through last Friday. Some 4,000 were added over the past week. The figures were taken from job placement agencies nationwide and other sources.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Shift to online recruitment sees Japanese students spend less on job hunting

JHRS — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 10:44:48 GMT

Students spent an average of about ¥29,000 on job hunting between March and May, about a third of last year’s amount, as the move to online recruitment amid the coronavirus pandemic cut their related transport and accommodation expenses, a survey has showed.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's single mothers, female nonregular workers hard hit by virus

JHRS — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 10:41:29 GMT

Based on a labor market survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in April, the employed population of women dropped by 530,000 from the same month the previous year to 29.30 million -- the first such downward shift in over eight years.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan pandemic jobless data masks woe of millions, experts say

JHRS — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 10:40:46 GMT

Unlike most major global powers, Japan has been spared an explosion in unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic, despite the world’s third-biggest economy suffering its first recession in more than five years.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's airport quarantine workers to get special allowance for high-risk work

JHRS — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 10:39:05 GMT

The National Personnel Authority plans to pay a special allowance of up to ¥4,000 per day to government employees who were involved in quarantine work at two airports earlier this year in response to the coronavirus outbreak, it was learned Thursday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's single mothers and female workers hard hit by coronavirus

JHRS — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 10:22:46 GMT

Based on a labor market survey by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry in April, the employed population of women dropped by 530,000 from the same month the previous year to 29.3 million — the first such downward shift in over eight years.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Tokyo abandons numerical targets to fight coronavirus

JHRS — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 10:34:22 GMT

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike on Tuesday unveiled a new coronavirus warning system that is based more on the advice of medical professionals instead of relying heavily on specific numerical targets, as the capital grapples with a recent uptick in the number of new cases after business and social restrictions were eased about a month ago.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Pandemic spurs some in Japan to reassess employment options

JHRS — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 10:31:50 GMT

As an article published in Gendai Business explains, some employees have discovered that absence from the office hasn’t exactly made the heart grow fonder in terms of their employers. The two-plus months of working from home now appear to be amplifying existing issues in the workplace, many of which had likely been festering before the pandemic struck.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese firms testing AI tech to recruit talent

JHRS — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 11:49:51 GMT

Many Japanese companies have already shifted to online interviews and seminars for recruiting new employees due to the coronavirus pandemic, but some have gone a step further by testing artificial intelligence to efficiently hire talent.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese investors favoring firms that let people work from home

JHRS — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 11:46:35 GMT

Some fund managers are increasingly basing investment decisions in part on how considerate companies are to their employees and clients during the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

35% of Japan workers, 55% of Tokyoites have teleworked during coronavirus crisis: poll

JHRS — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 11:43:56 GMT

TOKYO -- A Cabinet Office survey on changes in the public's views and behavior due to the spread of the novel coronavirus has found 34.6% of respondents with jobs and 55.5% of workers in Tokyo's special wards have experienced teleworking.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Majority of Japan firms cutting jobs and pay to survive pandemic

JHRS — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:59:23 GMT

A majority of firms said they have taken steps — from layoffs to pay cuts — to cope with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic on the world’s third-largest economy, according to a monthly poll.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Foreign Residents Support Center to open in Tokyo to assist with various issues

JHRS — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:56:41 GMT

TOKYO -- The Immigration Services Agency of Japan will launch a centralized hub to support foreign residents, companies that hire foreign residents, and local governments in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on July 6, the agency announced June 12.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan's ruling party eyes foreign workers for financial sector

JHRS — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 11:04:42 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is drafting a proposal to attract high-skilled workers from abroad for Tokyo’s financial sector, the lawmaker heading the LDP’s committee on foreign labourers said on Wednesday.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Hiring rate in Japan for new graduates hits 98% to match record

JHRS — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:34:01 GMT

The hiring rate for those who graduated from university this spring stood at 98 percent as of April 1, up 0.4 percentage point from a year earlier and matching the record high set two years ago, the labor and education ministries said Friday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

5,000 nonregular workers in Japan laid off due to coronavirus fallout

JHRS — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 10:40:56 GMT

An estimated 4,943 nonregular workers had been laid off or were expected to be laid off in Japan due to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic as of last Friday, more than double the figure from a week earlier, data released by the labor ministry showed Tuesday.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Travel restriction poses challenges for Japanese firms with international workforce

JHRS — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 10:39:15 GMT

Companies with many foreign workers are struggling with Japan’s strict entry restriction imposed on foreign nationals aimed at curtailing the spread of the coronavirus, throwing cold water on its attempt to lure global talent, especially high-skilled professionals, amid a workforce shortage in the graying nation.

Source

How the coronavirus is changing working styles in Japan

JHRS — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 06:23:19 GMT

The coronavirus pandemic has opened people's eyes in Japan to the possibility of new working styles where working from home, staggered work hours, and even four-day workweeks could become the norm.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Single moms in Japan losing jobs due to virus crisis struggle to support their kids

JHRS — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 06:20:51 GMT

TOKYO -- The coronavirus crisis is having a direct impact on workers in vulnerable positions in Japan, such as people rearing children or those who don't have permanent employment arrangements.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

6 million workers on leave in Japan as coronavirus takes toll

JHRS — Sat, 30 May 2020 06:24:45 GMT

TOKYO -- A record 5.97 million Japanese people were employed but not working last month, official data released Friday shows, as the private and public sectors try to shield workers from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's elderly workers, once key to Abenomics, suffer as pandemic closes businesses

JHRS — Fri, 22 May 2020 06:26:30 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - On a recent Saturday in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district more than 100 people, many of them elderly men, stood close together in a long queue waiting for food hand-outs.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Coronavirus might cost Japan over 1 million jobs, economists say

JHRS — Thu, 14 May 2020 06:18:23 GMT

The coronavirus is strangling the nation’s labor market, which just months ago was in desperate need of manpower, and may end up leaving a gaping scar.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Foreign workers in Japan hit hard by virus job losses need more help: support groups

JHRS — Fri, 08 May 2020 03:58:11 GMT

Employment conditions for Japan's foreign residents, many of whom work in nonpermanent or fixed-term positions, have continually worsened as the economy is taking a battering from the effects of the novel coronavirus.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Pandemic Driving Foreign Workers in Japan into Corner

JHRS — Thu, 07 May 2020 04:10:20 GMT

Labor shortages are becoming more acute in the elderly care and agriculture sectors as foreigners with certain skills who have acquired the new resident status introduced in Japan in April 2019 have been unable to come to the country due to entry restrictions the Japanese government has put into place in response to the epidemic.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japan weighs unemployment benefits for furloughed employees

JHRS — Thu, 07 May 2020 04:03:34 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan is likely to pay workers furloughed due to the new coronavirus crisis the same amount as regular unemployment benefits, Nikkei has learned.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's foreign work force hit by 'coronavirus cuts'

JHRS — Wed, 06 May 2020 04:00:34 GMT

OSAKA -- COVID-19 is throwing growing numbers of foreign workers in Japan out of work, and leaving many in financially precarious situations with no solution in sight.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's workers and parents feel the strain as Abe extends state of emergency

JHRS — Tue, 05 May 2020 04:12:14 GMT

Workers in hospitality, tourism and other industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as parents have appealed to the government for more financial and other support, after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe extended the nationwide state of emergency on Monday by over three weeks.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to Raise Ceiling on Employment Adjustment Subsidies

JHRS — Sun, 03 May 2020 03:56:01 GMT

Tokyo, May 3 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government will raise the ceiling on employment adjustment subsidies given to companies that put workers on temporary paid leave, economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said in a television program on Sunday.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japan to oblige employers to let pregnant women take virus leave

JHRS — Fri, 01 May 2020 04:08:52 GMT

Employers who deny pregnant women's requests to take time off during the novel coronavirus pandemic may be named and shamed under a new labor ministry guideline coming in early May.

Source: http://www.asahi.com/

Go abroad: Japan employers and colleges eye globalized school year

JHRS — Fri, 01 May 2020 04:04:53 GMT

TOKYO -- Employers and universities have welcomed the growing debate on pushing back the Japanese academic year's start to September, hoping to encourage more students to study abroad and expand the nation's pool of globally competitive talent.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

30% of Japan job-seekers see coronavirus impact on unemployment: Mainichi survey

JHRS — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 04:41:16 GMT

TOKYO -- A Mainichi Shimbun survey of 100 people using services provided by "Hello Work" public employment security offices nationwide found that 30% of respondents believe "the spread of the novel coronavirus has had a great impact" on their unemployment status.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Workers risking infection deserve payouts too, says Japan minister

JHRS — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 04:21:58 GMT

Supermarket cashiers who risk infection by going to work deserve government cash payouts just as much as those at home on furlough, said the minister leading Japan’s fight against the coronavirus in an interview with the Financial Times.

Source: https://www.ft.com/

Japan to subsidize 100% of salaries at small companies

JHRS — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 04:23:58 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan is working on a subsidy to ensure that temporarily idled small-business employees receive 100% of their wages during the current state of emergency, Nikkei has learned.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Web-conferencing biz booming as pandemic sends Japan's workers online

JHRS — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 04:20:19 GMT

Japan’s biggest power producer, Jera Co., holds executive and other important meetings on the internet and, except for power plant personnel, about 1,300 of the 1,700 employees at its headquarters and branch offices worked from home last week in response to the government’s call to curb social interaction to slow the novel coronavirus.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Foreign graduates in Japan can't leave due to virus, can't work due to visas

JHRS — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 07:29:40 GMT

KOBE -- Foreign students who graduated from Japanese language schools in March are falling into difficult circumstances due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. With flight cancellations stopping them returning home, and the law forbidding them from work after graduation, many are stuck without a means to earn money to live.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Fears coronavirus taking greater toll on Japan employment than Lehman shock

JHRS — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 07:27:28 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The economic fallout from the new coronavirus in Japan has triggered a sharp increase in nonpermanent workers seeking advice after losing their jobs, with some economists predicting unemployment could rise by over a million within a year, worse than the impact from the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Income for Japan's nonregular workers falling fast amid virus crisis

JHRS — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 07:38:42 GMT

The coronavirus pandemic is reducing the incomes of a wide range of nonregular workers across the nation, according to a survey by the Research Institute for Advancement of Living Standards.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Pandemic recession evokes fears of new lost generation in Japan

JHRS — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 07:28:40 GMT

OSAKA -- The economic upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic risks creating another lost generation of young Japanese job seekers graduating into a deeply scarred economy.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan’s big manufacturers to keep workers amid virus

JHRS — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 07:48:32 GMT

TOKYO: Japan’s large manufacturers will likely keep many of their workers on payrolls even though the coronavirus pandemic has dented automotive, electronics, metal and basic industries, the chief of the Japan Council of Metalworkers’ Unions said.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/

Coronavirus hits hiring in Japan's crucial manufacturing sector

JHRS — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 04:12:33 GMT

The spread of the new coronavirus has begun to affect employment in Japan's critical manufacturing sector and is likely to put significant downward pressure on the economy.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan enacts legislation to facilitate employment until age 70

JHRS — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 04:08:01 GMT

TOKYO--The Diet enacted legislation on Tuesday to spur businesses to let employees work until age 70, in a bid to increase its working population to cover rising social security costs amid an aging and shrinking population.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

More than 1,000 workers may lose jobs in Japan due to virus spread

JHRS — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 04:10:57 GMT

The number of workers in Japan who are expected to be fired or see their employment contracts not renewed due to the fallout from the outbreak of the new coronavirus is projected to total 1,021, the labor ministry said Tuesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

13% of employees in Japan telecommuting due to coronavirus

JHRS — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 09:12:11 GMT

About 13 percent of company employees across Japan are working remotely as part of measures to prevent the further spread of the novel coronavirus, the first time for almost half of them, according to the results of a study by a Tokyo-based think tank.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan pushes male public servants to take longer paternity leave

JHRS — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 09:07:34 GMT

Although the number of government employees taking paternity leave has been increasing, the period booked is shorter than a month in most cases. To encourage them to take longer leave, the government will introduce an evaluation system to give high ratings to workers in managerial positions who actively support subordinates taking such leave.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

For many in Japan, remote work during coronavirus outbreak is not an option

JHRS — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 09:03:44 GMT

To protect employees from such high-risk environments, firms nationwide have been scrambling to enable them to work remotely. A survey conducted by the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry earlier this month showed that 54.7 percent of large corporations with capital of ¥300 million or more in the prefecture are now implementing telework.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Coronavirus slowing immigration procedures for labor-hungry Japan firms

JHRS — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 09:08:38 GMT

The global crisis has left stranded hundreds of foreign nationals who were set to join the Japanese workforce in labor-hungry industries under a government-sponsored work permit program introduced in April last year, said Shoko Sasaki, commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency, on Thursday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

To aid virus-hit Japan economy, look after firms and jobs first, say experts

JHRS — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 09:17:51 GMT

Economists say that buoying consumption is indeed important, but that the first priority at this point should be to support companies unexpectedly hit by the virus and those who have lost or will likely to lose their jobs. They also say that cash distribution won’t be so fruitful when people’s mobility is restricted, while slashing the consumption tax rate is unrealistic in terms of current political hurdles as well as technical procedures.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

More Young Japanese Finding Steady Jobs

JHRS — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 05:43:36 GMT

The number of young people working casual part-time or nonregular jobs has been decreasing due to the favorable job market in Japan. At the same time, an increasing number of older men are working in these kinds of positions.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Coronavirus prompts Japan to reconsider long-hours office culture

JHRS — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 05:45:25 GMT

Authorities have urged companies to break long-standing taboos and encourage their employees to work from home to curb the spread of the virus, and Prime Minster Shinzo Abe’s call last week to shut down schools across the country has forced millions of parents into a work-from-home experiment the country’s firms are ill-prepared for.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan rethinks work culture as coronavirus spurs school closures

JHRS — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 05:51:58 GMT

TOKYO -- Companies in Japan are scrambling to accommodate working parents after nationwide school closures aimed at fighting the coronavirus went into effect on Monday, just days after the move was announced.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Spreading virus cases ruin job-hunting events and shut down Toyosu market

JHRS — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 05:55:40 GMT

The job-hunting season for students graduating in March 2021 officially kicked off on Sunday, but the outbreak of the new coronavirus is changing the way companies and recruitment firms conduct hiring sessions.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

COVID-19 takes toll on students' job-hunting in Japan

JHRS — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 03:59:08 GMT

The continuing spread of COVID-19 is affecting students’ job-hunting activities across the country. While job-seekers are enjoying a seller’s market due to severe labor shortages hitting the country, many firms are busy coming up with measures to deal with the virus situation, including switching to online briefings.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Inc. urged to make paternity leave no longer pie in the sky

JHRS — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 03:52:24 GMT

Tokyo--As one of the country's most high-profile politicians breaks new ground for a Cabinet minister by taking paternity leave, some lawmakers and businesses are aiming to change the way corporate Japan views time off for new dads.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Fears over coronavirus prompt surge in telecommuting across Japan

JHRS — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 03:49:46 GMT

A growing number of firms have been encouraging greater use of telecommuting as they try to minimize the risks of employees contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus, bracing for a likely spread of the highly infectious novel disease in Japan.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Can Japan kick-start paternity leave among workaholic dads?

JHRS — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 08:52:25 GMT

In Japan, the childcare leave law only covers employed “workers,” which excludes Diet lawmakers from an official childcare leave system. It’s the first time a Cabinet minister has announced and followed through with paternity leave. With no precedents to follow, Koizumi admitted he was somewhat confused about how to go about taking paternity leave, but added that “the system will not change unless the number of male public servants taking leave increases.”

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

As Japan opens doors to more foreign workers, firms confront reality of racism in the workplace

JHRS — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 07:32:59 GMT

While racial harassment — including slurs, jokes or the targeting of a person due to their race or ethnicity — is considered offensive and illegal in many countries around the world, awareness of the problematic phenomenon is still lacking in Japan.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan firms slowly moving away from old ways on recruitment and pay

JHRS — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 07:29:25 GMT

Japan’s unique, long-held employment practices characterized by annual new graduate recruitment, lifetime jobs and seniority-based pay raises have helped support economic growth in the postwar period.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Firms in Japan turn to teleworking to avoid coronavirus infection

JHRS — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 07:36:58 GMT

Heightened concerns over the new coronavirus outbreak has led many Japanese companies to make greater use of teleworking as a health measure, to prevent exposing their employees to the virus on public transport or in offices.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to amend laws to help elderly work until 70

JHRS — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 07:35:41 GMT

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved bills to urge businesses to let employees work until age 70, as the country seeks to expand the working population to cover rising social security costs amid the rapid graying of society.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Employees work at home to curb virus spread

JHRS — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 06:46:17 GMT

Companies in Japan are taking preventative measures to deal with the spread of the coronavirus. Some are telling their employees to work from home if they have recently been in China.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp

Japan to designate coronavirus special infectious disease, allowing use of funds for urgent treatment

JHRS — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 06:39:00 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday revealed a plan to designate pneumonia caused by a new strain of coronavirus as a special infectious disease, with the aim of making it possible to provide urgent treatment to patients using public funds.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Esports growing as corporate tool to deepen employee ties in Japan

JHRS — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 06:45:05 GMT

The number of companies using esports events as a tool to deepen communication among employees is on the rise in Japan, with younger generations preferring such events to going on company trips or in-house sports festivals.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan top business lobby urges review in seniority-based employment

JHRS — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 06:47:47 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's most powerful business lobby on Tuesday called on member companies to review the country's long-held employment practices, including automatic pay raises based on seniority and service longevity, amid the need to attract talent in a competitive and fast-digitalizing economy.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan's new visa system on track to fall far short of target

JHRS — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 06:38:23 GMT

The government is likely to fall far short of its target of issuing work permits under a new visa system to 340,000 non-Japanese over the next five years to alleviate acute labor shortages in 14 sectors.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to extend provisional certification for graduate care workers

JHRS — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 06:39:41 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's welfare ministry plans to extend special transitional measures to fiscal 2026 that grant graduates of elderly care courses provisional certification without the need to pass a national exam, as part of efforts to alleviate a labor shortage in the sector, ministry sources said Sunday.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan giving more government workers permission to moonlight amid labor crunch

JHRS — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 06:35:19 GMT

More civil servants are taking second jobs amid the nationwide labor crunch, with some municipalities giving the green light for side jobs that contribute to society.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to develop app detecting forged residence cards for foreigners

JHRS — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 10:32:28 GMT

TOKYO, Japan – The Japanese government will develop a smartphone app to easily identify forged residence cards for foreigners in an attempt to crack down on violations of visa laws, government officials said.

Source: https://www.rappler.com/

Japanese companies ban Middle East travel

JHRS — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 10:27:12 GMT

TOKYO -- Many Japanese companies are restricting employees from traveling to the Middle East after Iran attacked Iraqi bases hosting U.S. troops in retaliation for the killing of a top military commander.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to urge firms to employ workers until age 70 from next year

JHRS — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 10:29:59 GMT

The labor ministry plans to urge companies from April 2021 to ensure jobs are available for workers until the age of 70, it was learned Wednesday. The plans were included in the summary of a bill to revise the law on stabilizing employment for the elderly that was submitted by the ministry to a Labor Policy Council subcommittee the same day. The ministry aims to submit the bill to an ordinary session of the Diet slated to be convened on Jan. 20.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan targets int’l workers with PSW boost

JHRS — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 06:50:52 GMT

Japan has implemented measures to create more opportunities for international students to find work in the country, government ministers have announced, as stakeholders warn current policies are not helping the country meet its demand for highly-skilled workers.

Source: https://thepienews.com/

Corporate culture remains obstacle to Japan adopting telework

JHRS — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 10:28:24 GMT

The government has been actively promoting telecommuting, touting its many merits from easing traffic congestion and enhancing disaster preparedness to helping recruit and retain talent amid Japan’s chronic labor shortage.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's lifetime employment and low pay risk brain drain: lobby

JHRS — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 10:25:19 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan faces the prospect of falling behind other countries in the race to foster high-tech businesses unless domestic companies offer competitive pay and revamp outdated employment practices, the nation's most influential business lobby warned on Monday.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's foreign nurses: disinformation, lack of support shows struggle for new arrivals

JHRS — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 07:08:31 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan first started actively accepting nurses from other countries more than 11 years ago, when the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Indonesia went into effect in July 2008.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

As forestry work gets easier in graying Japan, young hires opt for paths less taken

JHRS — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 07:18:46 GMT

Young Japanese are increasingly joining the forestry industry thanks to a government program and labor-saving improvements made possible by the expanding use of machines. Many also see the sector as an opportunity to escape urban life.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

244 candidates passed Japan's civil service hiring exam for people with disabilities in fiscal 2019

JHRS — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 07:11:08 GMT

The exam was held for the second time since its introduction in fiscal 2018, which followed a scandal in which many government agencies falsified reports of the number of people with disabilities they employed in order to meet a legally prescribed threshold.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Led by Ogata, Japanese women break glass ceiling as UN diplomats

JHRS — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 07:34:36 GMT

TOKYO -- Sadako Ogata's contribution to the world was not limited to helping millions of displaced people as the head of the United Nations refugee agency. She also inspired many younger Japanese women to follow suit and fulfill professional ambitions on the world stage.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to require firms to clearly ban power harassment

JHRS — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 07:32:21 GMT

A subcommittee of a labor ministry panel on Wednesday gave its approval to draft guidelines on preventing power harassment in workplaces that require companies to clearly ban such practices.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Only 895 granted blue-collar visas since April, immigration agency admits

JHRS — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 07:13:23 GMT

The immigration service had issued just 895 working permits as of early November under the new visa system for skilled blue-collar foreign workers, a far lower number than had originally been forecast for this time, agency officials said Wednesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan introduces tougher penalties on employers of foreign interns who go missing

JHRS — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 07:29:46 GMT

TOKYO, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Tuesday rolled out tougher penalties to be imposed on employers or entities at which foreign interns disappear from, with those who have a track record of such disappearances being prohibited from the internship program.

Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/

Japanese women defend right to wear glasses at work after companies forbid eyewear

JHRS — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 07:17:56 GMT

The hashtag “glasses are forbidden” (#メガネ禁止 in Japanese) grew in popularity on Twitter on Wednesday after the country’s Nippon TV covered a story about Japanese companies banning women employees from wearing glasses and forcing them to wear contact lenses instead, according to the Washington Post.

Source: https://globalnews.ca/

Labor shortages in Japan's construction sector provide unexpected economic boost

JHRS — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 06:03:25 GMT

As Japan’s construction firms are squeezed by the tightest labor market since the 1970s and a rapidly aging population, they are pouring investment into technology — and providing unexpected support to an economy reeling from the bitter U.S.-China trade war.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Microsoft Japan tested a four-day work week and productivity jumped by 40%

JHRS — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 07:18:54 GMT

For the month of August, Microsoft Japan experimented with a new project called Work-Life Choice Challenge Summer 2019, giving its entire 2,300-person workforce five Fridays off in a row without decreasing pay.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/

Japan mulls bringing part-timers into employee pension system

JHRS — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 09:41:56 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese government is considering including some short-term contract workers and part-timers in the employee pension program as a measure to expand the retirement support system's scope, government officials said Wednesday.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Survey: Many elderly hoping to work part-time from 65

JHRS — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 09:40:25 GMT

The government plans to submit to next year’s regular Diet session a bill to revise the law for stable elderly employment to require firms to make efforts for securing jobs for workers after they reach 70. A subcommittee of an advisory panel under the ministry is working to draw up details of the amendment.

Source: https://the-japan-news.com/

Record 25,900 foreign students landed jobs in Japan in 2018

JHRS — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 09:38:26 GMT

TOKYO -- An all-time high of 25,942 foreign students in Japan found work at Japanese companies and changed their residence status last year, the Immigration Services Agency announced on Wednesday.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Jobs Waiting For Japanese College Grads Slowly Evaporating

JHRS — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 07:23:55 GMT

The common scenario of career-type jobs waiting for Japanese university students upon graduation is becoming uncertain as large companies' hiring numbers have fallen since spring for the first time in nine years because of economic challenges, information technology disruptions and low-interest-rate environment.

Source: https://en.businesstimes.cn/

Japan Inc. cuts job offers to college grads for 1st time in 9 years

JHRS — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 07:22:26 GMT

TOKYO -- Job offers from large companies to university students have fallen below actual hiring numbers from spring for the first time in nine years as the low interest rate environment, information technology disruptions and other economic challenges squeeze corporate Japan.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

'Right to disconnect' ethos challenges Japan's workers

JHRS — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 07:11:58 GMT

As technology blurs the boundaries between personal and professional lives, some pioneering companies in Japan are going against the grain by allowing employees to refuse work phone calls and emails on their days off.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

"Right to disconnect" presents challenges in work-driven Japan

JHRS — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 05:47:54 GMT

Tokyo--Some pioneering companies in Japan are going against the grain by allowing employees to refuse work phone calls and emails on their days off, in an age when technology is blurring the boundaries between personal and professional lives.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan labor body to step up support for foreigners, freelancers

JHRS — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 05:46:25 GMT

Japan's largest labor organization will step up support for foreign workers and freelancers who find it difficult to join existing labor unions or form new unions by themselves, a source close to the matter said Tuesday.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan low earners living in net cafes describe threat from sales tax hike

JHRS — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 05:44:01 GMT

TOKYO -- With the Oct. 1 sales tax rise from 8% to 10% likely to put pressure on some vulnerable people's ability to cover even their most basic living costs, the Mainichi Shimbun spoke to laborers with no permanent residence who stay for extended periods in internet cafes, to find out how the hike will affect them.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

More Workers in Japan Feeling Benefits of Switching Jobs

JHRS — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 10:56:38 GMT

A survey on employment trends published by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare found that, in 2018, 7.66 million workers were newly hired by Japanese businesses, while 7.24 million left their jobs. New hires exceeded job leavers for the sixth consecutive year, reflecting the favorable job market that has arisen from Japan’s labor shortage.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Man with HIV awarded damages after being denied hospital job

JHRS — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 06:27:16 GMT

SAPPORO--A court on Tuesday ordered a hospital operator in northern Japan to pay 1.65 million yen damages to a man, after it refused to employ him last year for failing to report his HIV infection.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan seeks to boost employment opportunities for elderly

JHRS — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 06:21:42 GMT

TOKYO — The Japanese government will take steps to secure employment opportunities for the elderly, based on a recent survey that showed a record-high 8.62 million people aged 65 or older held jobs in 2018.

Source: https://business.inquirer.net/

Japan paternity leave suit spotlights workers' rights

JHRS — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 06:30:06 GMT

A male employee is suing sportswear maker Asics Corp. for alleged mistreatment after taking paternity leave, a case that has cast a spotlight on gender equality and workers’ rights in Japan.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Annual government employment exam for disabled held for second time since hiring scandal

JHRS — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 06:24:28 GMT

The government held a uniform employment examination for people with disabilities on Sunday, for the second time since a hiring scandal came to light last year. A total of 3,104 people took the first-stage test paper in hope of securing one of the 248 jobs on offer. The exam took place at 15 locations in nine cities, including Tokyo and Osaka.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

About 60% of surveyed Japan freelancers harassed at work, labor laws insufficient

JHRS — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 06:09:16 GMT

TOKYO -- Around 60% of freelance workers in Japan have experienced power harassment, and close to 40% have been subject to sexual harassment, according to the results of a survey announced by three freelancer groups in the capital on Sept. 10.

Source: https://mainichi.jp

Non-workers aged 50-plus could make up 59% of Japan's population by 2050, OECD warns

JHRS — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 06:10:57 GMT

People aged 50 or older and out of the workforce in Japan could increase by 29 percent from 2018, to 59 per 100 people, by 2050, straining public retirement schemes, the OECD said in a recent report that suggested reforms are needed.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's older population without jobs could grow 29% by 2050

JHRS — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 09:53:27 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan needs to implement reforms as people aged 50 or older and out of the workforce could increase 29 percent to 59 per 100 workers by 2050 from 2018, straining public retirement schemes, the OECD said in a recent report.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan's jobless rate hit 26-year low in July amid labor shortage

JHRS — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 09:59:17 GMT

Japan’s unemployment rate hit a 26-year low in July, government data showed Friday, on the back of a serious labor shortage as the country’s population rapidly grays.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Women still required to wear heels at most customer-facing firms in Japan, survey shows

JHRS — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 06:32:41 GMT

A majority of companies where in-person customer service plays a major role in their business, such as banks and airlines, have dress codes requiring women to wear high-heeled shoes, according to a survey by Kyodo News.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

3,000 people to work in Japan under expanded visa system

JHRS — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 06:22:02 GMT

Over 3,000 foreign laborers are set to work under new visas introduced in April, the leader of the Immigration Services Agency said. The agency envisions starting a public certification system for dedicated supporters of foreign people, Commissioner Shoko Sasaki, 57, said in a recent interview.

Source:https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan looks to encourage paternity leave by raising subsidies

JHRS — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 06:34:54 GMT

TOKYO--To boost the number of male employees taking paternity leave and promote female participation in the workforce, Japan's labor ministry has decided to increase government subsidies for companies whose employees do so, sources close to the matter said.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan to aid a million members of 'lost generation' with hiring subsidies

JHRS — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 06:25:33 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government will provide support for the employment of members of the so-called "lost generation," who graduated from high school or university into a serious job crunch after the collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. The government plans to draw up support measures later this month, a government source told Nikkei.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Youth job support program to cover unemployed Japanese up to 50 years old

JHRS — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 06:30:03 GMT

The labor ministry has decided to expand the scope of its youth job support initiative to cover people up to age 50 to cope with an increase in middle-aged people out of work, according to informed sources.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's banks shed more than 3,600 workers in record drop

JHRS — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 05:29:46 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese banks reduced their collective payroll by 3,629 employees in fiscal 2018, researchers have found, with digitization of paperwork and a slowdown in hiring driving the steepest drop in available data.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

More firms viewing better sleep as sound investment

JHRS — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 05:27:03 GMT

OSAKA (Jiji Press) — An increasing number of Japanese companies are working to improve the quality of sleep of their workers, with some seeking business opportunities from “sleep technologies” for comfortable sleep.

Source: https://the-japan-news.com/

5,160 foreign trainee employers violated labor laws in 2018

JHRS — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 05:28:34 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — A record 5,160 business facilities in Japan employing foreign technical intern trainees were told in 2018 to correct their practices that violated labor-related laws, the labor ministry has said.

Source: https://the-japan-news.com/

Japanese companies hiking pay and holding classes in race to get tooled up on AI

JHRS — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 10:55:48 GMT

OSAKA – There’s a sense of panic within Japan Inc. and the government — the world’s No. 3 economy, doesn’t have enough experts in artificial intelligence, and it’s time to do something about it.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan service sector growth eases on tempered optimism, job creation: PMI

JHRS — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 10:53:06 GMT

TOKYO, (Reuters) - - Activity in Japan’s services sector expanded again in July, albeit at a fractionally slower pace than the previous month, a revised survey showed on Monday, indicating resilient domestic demand despite signs of a loss of momentum.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Job security eludes Japan's growing ranks of post-doctorate part-time lecturers

JHRS — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 10:49:47 GMT

According to education ministry statistics, the number of people who completed a doctoral course in the 2018 school year totaled 15,658, up nearly three times from 5,576 in the 1989 school year. Along with the increase of people with a doctorate, the number of post-doctorates working as part-time lecturers rose sixfold from 15,689 in 1989 to 93,145 in 2016.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Expects Hiring To Soar Despite S. Korea Trade Dispute

JHRS — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 11:38:16 GMT

The Japanese Cabinet Office released a white paper on Tuesday, indicating that 2019 will be a year of increased new graduate hires. The news came amid escalating trade tensions with South Korea.

Source: https://en.businesstimes.cn/

Year-Round Hiring to Be More Common in Japan: Govt Paper

JHRS — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 11:36:43 GMT

The government agency presented the analysis in its Annual Report on the Japanese Economy and Public Finance for fiscal 2019, based on a survey that found 33.3 pct of responding companies had introduced such a hiring system.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Pay in Japan increasingly stuck to floor as productivity lags

JHRS — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 11:40:31 GMT

TOKYO -- Hourly earnings are showing an unusual pattern in Japan as rises in the minimum wage have left more people working near the pay floor despite a shortage of labor. The finding points to the existence of a congested segment of inefficient companies capable of paying their workers only at the lowest level.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japanese firms change job structures to compete globally

JHRS — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 06:42:15 GMT

Japanese companies have accelerated a structural shift in traditional employment practices, as more and more major firms are raising the wage levels of young staff while trying to reduce the number of middle-aged and elderly employees by encouraging them to resign before the mandatory retirement age.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com/

Japan's personnel authority likely to recommend pay raise for government employees

JHRS — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 06:43:40 GMT

The National Personnel Authority is likely to recommend raising the monthly salaries of government employees for a sixth straight year this year to close gaps between the public and private sectors, sources said Friday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's 'ice age generation' urges revamp of state hiring push

JHRS — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 10:31:06 GMT

The government announced a plan in June to find 300,000 permanent jobs for those who got stuck in the prolonged “employment ice age” that was triggered by the collapse of the bubble economy in the 1990s, but critics are skeptical about how effective it will be and are urging a revamp.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Local governments in Japan expanding scope of disabled applicants eligible for public-sector job exams

JHRS — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 10:27:26 GMT

An increasing number of prefectural governments and ordinance-designated major cities are expanding the scope of disabled people eligible to take exams for regular jobs at public-sector offices to include those with mental or intellectual disabilities.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Companies tepid on new foreign worker system in Japan

JHRS — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 10:29:45 GMT

Japan has so far made little progress in accepting more foreign workers. As of the end of June, there had been 320 applications for the new "specified skilled worker" residence status established under the revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law, which took effect on April 1. Of that number, only 20 applicants had been granted the status.

Source: https://www.stripes.com/

Japan's disadvantaged generation seek changes in hiring practices

JHRS — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 10:25:13 GMT

Tokyo--The government endorsed last month a plan to secure 300,000 permanent jobs for those in their mid-30s to mid-40s who fell victim to an "employment ice age" when they entered the job market, but some of them have cast doubt on its effectiveness and urged companies to change their hiring practices.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan's workers scramble to make up $187,000 retirement shortfall

JHRS — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 04:14:11 GMT

TOKYO -- A panel report from Japan's financial regulator estimates that an average elderly couple will need an extra 20 million yen ($186,768) to fund a 30-year retirement. That has prompted retail investors, many still in their 20s, to start building up assets on their own.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Third of Japan's new graduate recruits thinking of changing jobs within five years

JHRS — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 04:02:45 GMT

In a break with Japan’s tradition of lifetime employment, at least 1 in 3 new graduate recruits are considering leaving their jobs within five years, and only 1 in 5 treat their employment as being a lifetime role, a recent study conducted by the operator of a recruitment website has shown.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Eyes 300,000 Jobs for "Employment Ice Age" Generation

JHRS — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 05:30:55 GMT

The Japanese government on Tuesday unveiled a target of creating 300,000 regular jobs over three years for people in their 30s and 40s hit by the so-called employment ice age.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japan to encourage foreign workers to maintain employment outside major cities

JHRS — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 05:29:04 GMT

The government is planning measures to encourage foreign workers with specific skills under the country’s new visa statuses to secure jobs and continue employment outside of big cities, officials said Monday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Tokyo keen to draw foreign workers to rural Japan

JHRS — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 05:40:29 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan is bringing in more foreign workers to help address a labor shortage, and the government wants to make sure Tokyo and other major cities are not the only places that benefit from the additional manpower.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Short of labor, Japanese companies vie for Southeast Asian workers

JHRS — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 06:07:20 GMT

TOKYO -- A revised immigration law that took effect in April has brought Japanese restaurant operators and other labor-crunch-challenged employers to Southeast Asia.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan toughens checks on disabled workers' employment

JHRS — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 06:01:22 GMT

TOKYO--The Diet has passed a bill to toughen monitoring of the hiring of disabled workers after government ministries and agencies were found last year to have inflated their hiring figures to meet legal quotas for national-level public bodies.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan facing increased pressure to hike minimum wage, but business leaders give mixed response

JHRS — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 06:05:32 GMT

Last month, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy recommended that the government draw up detailed measures to bring the nationwide average minimum wage up to ¥1,000 per hour as soon as possible.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan wants employees working until 70

JHRS — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 09:52:53 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will require companies to make efforts that allow employees to work until age 70 in order to address a chronic labor shortage that threatens economic growth.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Labor minister opposes banning dress codes in Japan that force women to wear high heels

JHRS — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 10:00:06 GMT

The labor minister has indicated he will not support a drive to ban dress codes that force women to wear high heels at work.

Employees’ health and safety need to be protected, but work is varied, said Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Takumi Nemoto, who oversees the country’s workplace reforms.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to support creation of 300,000 jobs for long-term unemployed

JHRS — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 09:49:46 GMT

The government plans to support the creation of 300,000 jobs over the next three years for people who have failed to secure permanent employment since the collapse of Japan’s economic bubble in the early 1990s, a draft policy guideline showed Tuesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japanese Women Want a Law Against Mandatory Heels at Work

JHRS — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 09:55:57 GMT

TOKYO — Japan is the latest battleground for women revolting against the tyranny of high heels, as a fledgling movement seeks government protection from workplaces that require the footwear.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/

Japan to open up job fields for foreigners graduating from universities

JHRS — Wed, 29 May 2019 04:42:51 GMT

TOKYO--The immigration agency said Tuesday it will open up the business sectors foreigners are allowed to work in after graduating from universities or completing postgraduate studies in Japan, in the latest effort to lure more laborers to the country.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japanese firms resist hiring foreign workers under new immigration law: poll

JHRS — Sat, 25 May 2019 05:01:20 GMT

TOKYO--Only one in four Japanese companies plan to actively employ foreign workers under a new government immigration scheme, a Reuters poll found, complicating Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to ease the country's tightest job market in decades.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Employment rate for Japan's college graduates close to record high at 97.6% amid labor shortage

JHRS — Fri, 17 May 2019 04:46:42 GMT

The employment rate for job seekers who graduated from universities this spring stood at 97.6 percent, government data showed Friday, in the latest sign of a widespread labor shortage amid a graying population.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Government to urge firms in Japan to hire employees until age 70 amid labor crunch

JHRS — Thu, 16 May 2019 04:52:26 GMT

The government on Wednesday urged companies to extend employees’ retirement until the age of 70 as part of measures to address a severe labor shortage due to Japan’s rapidly graying population.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Fewer applicants, more openings for elementary school teaching jobs

JHRS — Fri, 10 May 2019 06:06:45 GMT

TOKYO -- The number of people applying for public elementary school teaching positions across Japan reached a record low of 3.2 people for every available position in fiscal 2018, the education ministry has found.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan's labor shortage eats away at back-breaking work culture

JHRS — Thu, 09 May 2019 06:05:06 GMT

With unemployment at a 26-year low, Japanese companies are facing stiff competition for talent. But younger people entering the workforce often resent everything that made the Japanese corporate environment globally notorious: long hours, strict top-down discipline and rewards based on loyalty and seniority.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Nearly 40% of companies see low retention rate for midcareer hires: survey

JHRS — Tue, 07 May 2019 06:11:28 GMT

Close to 40 percent of employers feel they have low retention rates for regular employees hired in the middle of their careers, according to a survey.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan bumps into challenges welcoming overseas workers

JHRS — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 05:37:15 GMT

TOKYO -- With Japan's revised immigration rules having taken effect on April 1, moves to accept more foreign workers are picking up steam as the country struggles to cope with a serious labor crunch. Not surprisingly, there are snags.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan – Unemployment rate holds steady in March

JHRS — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 05:33:33 GMT

Japan’s jobless rate stood at 2.5% in March 2019, steady compared to the same period last year, according to data from Statistics Japan. The number of unemployed persons in March 2019 was 1.74 million, an increase of 10,000 or 0.6% from the previous year.

Source: https://www.stat.go.jp/

Unemployment rate rose to 2.5% in March as Japan's workers sought greener pastures

JHRS — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 05:39:41 GMT

The nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.5 percent in March, up 0.2 percentage point from the previous month, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said Friday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Female recruits in Japan want to balance full-time jobs with family, and husbands' help with kids

JHRS — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 05:31:34 GMT

A majority of young female recruits in Japan desire both full-time careers and a family, with 90 percent expecting their future husbands to take paternity leave, according to recent findings by Tokyo-based recruitment information firm Disco Inc.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Tight labor market in Japan forces companies to revamp recruitment

JHRS — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 05:35:19 GMT

Major firms will begin hiring university graduates year-round, Keidanren said Monday, revamping Japan’s long-standing education-to-employment pathway in response to the changing labor market.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Foreign staff bring new perspectives to smaller firms in Japan

JHRS — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 06:08:48 GMT

There’s no denying that Japan, amid a severe labor crunch and a shrinking population, will need to rely more on foreign workers in the coming years, and that’s especially true for small and midsize companies.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan turns to foreigners to decommission Fukushima plant

JHRS — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 06:07:39 GMT

[TOKYO] Foreign labourers with sufficient Japanese language skills will for the first time be enlisted to decommission the reactors at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant under new visa rules, the station's operator said Thursday.

Source: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/

77% of Japanese firms say they don't discriminate against foreign workers in terms of pay

JHRS — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 05:38:19 GMT

Nearly 80 percent of companies pay their foreign employees equal or higher wages compared with their Japanese staff, a think tank survey showed Wednesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

1st exam held in Japan for foreigners seeking new work visa

JHRS — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 06:04:21 GMT

TOKYO--Japan is gearing up to accept more foreign workers under its new visa system launched earlier in the month, with a qualification exam for applicants held in the country for the first time on Sunday.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Retiring late: More Japanese opt to prolong employment

JHRS — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 06:03:01 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government is considering raising the retirement age to 70 or 75 from 65 now, to ease pension burdens as well as a labor crunch. But a more durable longer term solution, analysts say, is for Japan to relax its strict controls on foreign workers.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan to encourage experienced employees to leave major cities

JHRS — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 06:00:56 GMT

As part of its regional vitalisation efforts, the Japanese government plans to launch a new system this autumn to encourage mid-level employees in and around their 40s who work in major cities to take jobs in regional areas.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/

Japan to Support Nonregular Workers in Their 30s, 40s

JHRS — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 08:00:32 GMT

Tokyo, April 11 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government has decided to draw up a program aimed at facilitating stable employment of nonregular workers in their 30s and 40s who were unable to obtain regular positions upon graduation from universities or other educational institutions due to the tough job market at the time.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japan to draw up plans to support workers stuck in nonregular employment in their 30s and 40s

JHRS — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 05:53:22 GMT

The government has decided to draw up a program aimed at facilitating stable employment of nonregular workers in their 30s and 40s who were unable to obtain regular positions upon graduation from universities or other educational institutions due to the tough job market at the time.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Asian countries train young caregivers for Japan's elderly

JHRS — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 07:55:55 GMT

With Japan expanding its acceptance of foreign workers from this month, major countries in Asia are stepping up on preparations to dispatch workers. In particular, caregiving, a field expected to draw up to 60,000 workers to Japan over the next five years, is attracting great attention.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com/

Japan introduces legal cap on long working hours under labor reform law

JHRS — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 05:36:31 GMT

TOKYO--A labor reform law came into force on Monday, setting a legal cap on long work hours to change Japan's notorious overwork culture blamed for causing sickness and deaths.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Recruits mark first day at work across Japan as fiscal 2019 begins with new overtime curbs

JHRS — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 05:32:51 GMT

The ministry, which has come under fire for releasing faulty job data for over a decade, played a major role in drafting a labor reform law setting a legal cap on long working hours that came into force Monday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan debuts legal cap on long work hours under labor reform law, but for now only big firms affected

JHRS — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 05:31:16 GMT

A labor reform law came into force on Monday, setting a legal cap on long work hours to change Japan’s notorious overwork culture blamed for causing sickness and deaths.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's skills test for foreign workers off to a rough start

JHRS — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 05:29:50 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan is relaxing work visa requirements in the food service industry to deal with a chronic labor shortage, but the number of workers who can take the first qualification exams will be limited because industry bodies responsible for developing the tests have not had enough time to prepare for the event.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Foreign workers are on the way, but are Japanese businesses ready?

JHRS — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 05:35:08 GMT

A new visa program designed to lure more workers to Japan takes effect Monday, and government officials and industry leaders hope two new types will help alleviate the national labor shortage.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Survey finds that half of Japan's home care workers experienced harassment in 2018

JHRS — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 07:07:23 GMT

Around 50 percent of home care workers reported in a recent government survey that they had experienced some form of harassment from those being cared for, it was learned Sunday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to record immigrants’ ID numbers in employers’ reports

JHRS — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 07:09:55 GMT

Ahead of more foreign workers being accepted in Japan from April, the government is to require foreign workers’ residence card ID numbers in reports that their employers submit to the labor ministry, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan Adopts Bill to Prevent Padding of Disabled Employment

JHRS — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 07:02:22 GMT

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government, at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, adopted a bill aimed at preventing government ministries and agencies and other public organizations from overstating the employment of disabled people.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japan enacts wage protections ahead of foreign worker influx

JHRS — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 07:07:25 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will tighten oversight of pay for foreign employees through ordinances issued Friday, aiming to address major concerns over working conditions as the country prepares to accept more labor from abroad starting next month.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Rules issued for firms hiring foreign workers via new system, including pay parity with Japanese

JHRS — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 07:08:44 GMT

The government released Friday a set of ordinances on how to enlist foreign workers under a new visa system that will start from April, including requiring employers to pay wages equivalent to or higher than those of Japanese nationals.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan warns firms not to fire pregnant foreign trainees, as interns fear impact on work status

JHRS — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 07:03:39 GMT

SAPPORO - The government has warned companies against dismissing or unfairly treating foreign trainees who get pregnant while working in the country, officials said Thursday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan employers propose smaller pay rises for 2019

JHRS — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 07:05:37 GMT

Announcing their response to union demands in the annual “spring offensive” wage negotiations, Honda proposed a basic wage hike of ¥1,400 per month compared with ¥1,700 last year, while a swathe of electronics companies responded with ¥1,000 compared with ¥1,500 a year ago.

Source: https://www.ft.com/

Cautious Japan Inc offer smaller wage hikes as economy wobbles

JHRS — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 06:49:26 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Big Japanese firms offered smaller pay increases at annual wage talks on Wednesday as the economy sputters, tempering hopes that domestic consumption will offset external risks to growth.

Source: https://in.reuters.com/

Companies offer smaller pay increases amid sputtering economy

JHRS — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 06:48:09 GMT

Major firms are set to raise wages for a sixth straight year as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe kept up the pressure on businesses to boost pay in an effort to beat deflation that has dogged Japan for nearly two decades.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan to require foreign workers arriving on new visas to submit medical certificates

JHRS — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 07:10:07 GMT

The Justice Ministry plans to require foreign workers entering the country using new working visas to submit medical certificates, sources with knowledge of the matter have said.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to step up oversight of employers hiring foreign interns

JHRS — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 06:50:30 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will strengthen monitoring of businesses that hire foreign workers under a government-administered technical training program, moving to crack down on illegal overtime hours and nonpayment of wages amid a labor shortage.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Job-hunting begins for Japan's spring 2020 graduates amid labor crunch

JHRS — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 06:57:22 GMT

Companies started Friday to offer employment seminars for third-year university students due to graduate in spring 2020, marking the opening of the last job-hunting season under the rules set by Japan’s biggest business lobby.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

January jobless rate edges up as more Japanese women quit jobs to look for better opportunities

JHRS — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 06:56:05 GMT

The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage point from the previous month to 2.5 percent in January, reflecting a rising number of women quitting their jobs for better positions amid the tightest labor market in decades, government data showed Friday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

No systematic cover-up of faulty jobs data at labor ministry, investigative panel says

JHRS — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 06:54:41 GMT

A panel investigating faulty jobs data denied Wednesday that there had been a systematic cover-up at the labor ministry, saying top bureaucrats had been unaware monthly labor surveys were “conducted improperly” for almost 15 years.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to ease language requirements for foreign nursing care trainees amid sluggish growth in applications

JHRS — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 06:56:40 GMT

The central government plans to ease language requirements for foreign technical interns in the nursing care sector as part of its efforts to bring in more laborers from abroad, government sources have said.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Employers, foreign trainees lack info on new residency statuses beginning in April

JHRS — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 06:55:14 GMT

Many Japanese employers and potential foreign workers are still lacking information on new residency statuses the government is set to introduce in less than two months, even though the Justice Ministry has begun some briefing sessions.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japanese companies warming up — slowly — to four-day workweek

JHRS — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 07:27:18 GMT

As of 2018, according to a labor ministry survey, 6.9 percent of privately held companies with 30 or more full-time employees had introduced the system in some form. A decade ago, the figure was 3.1 percent.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese cities worried about receiving more foreign workers: survey

JHRS — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 07:28:29 GMT

TOKYO--Nearly half of cities and towns across Japan are concerned about how to provide appropriate treatment to foreign workers as they prepare for an influx after this spring with the government's new policy on addressing a chronic labor shortage, a survey conducted by Kyodo News showed Sunday.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan's female employment tops 50% for 1st time in half-century

JHRS — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 05:02:44 GMT

TOKYO -- For the first time in five decades, over half of Japan's women were employed in 2018, new data showed Friday, amid a worsening labor shortage and continuing efforts to accommodate working mothers.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan-based degrees offer international advantages

JHRS — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 06:53:38 GMT

A Master of Business Administration continues to be a path to senior executive roles as demand has been increasing and the degree still equates to higher salaries.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's labor shortage hits 45-year high

JHRS — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 05:06:19 GMT

TOKYO--There were 161 jobs for every 100 jobseekers on average last year in Japan, the highest ratio since 1973, highlighting the labor shortage in the world's third-largest economy and its aging society.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan's labor ministry embroiled in fresh data gathering scandal

JHRS — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 05:46:40 GMT

TOKYO, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Japan's labor ministry said it has found flaws in another survey related to jobs and wages, with the scandal marking the second such time this month erroneous methods have been revealed to have been used to gather official governmental statistics, local media reported Tuesday.

Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/

Shinzo Abe’s campaign to raise Japanese wages loses steam

JHRS — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 06:36:03 GMT

Japan’s biggest employers have declined to set a target for 2019 pay increases in a sign that prime minister Shinzo Abe’s strong-arm campaign to raise wages is petering out.

Source: https://www.ft.com/

Japan firms have no plans to strengthen governance after Ghosn arrest: Reuters poll

JHRS — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 06:32:10 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Three-quarters of Japanese companies have no plan to create committees overseeing compensation or executive nomination, a Reuters poll found, reflecting indifference to boosting governance after the arrest of former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn.

Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/

Japanese firms circumventing traditional hiring timetable to find quality recruits

JHRS — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 06:30:22 GMT

It’s a rite of spring: Major corporations hire fresh university graduates en masse every April, starting them all at the same salary with assurances of rising pay and lifetime employment.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Abe Cabinet approves reworked 2019 draft budget after Japan jobs data debacle

JHRS — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 06:34:40 GMT

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday approved a draft budget for fiscal 2019 that had to be reworked to add ¥650 million in costs arising from the labor ministry’s publishing of faulty jobs data.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s workforce expected to drop 20% by 2040 unless economy grows

JHRS — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 05:34:13 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's workforce in 2040 is projected to drop 20 percent from 2017 due to overall population declines if the economy sees no growth and women and the elderly continue to have difficulty landing jobs, a government study showed Tuesday.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Government to review statistics after revelation that faulty Japan jobs data spanned 14 years

JHRS — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 05:31:00 GMT

The government said Friday it will conduct a sweeping review of key statistics after the labor ministry was revealed to have published faulty jobs data for more than a decade.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan – Unemployment falls slightly to 2.5% in November

JHRS — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 06:51:14 GMT

The employment rate in Japan stood at 60.4%, up 1.4% from the same period last year. The number of employed persons in November was 67.09 million, an increase of 1.57 million or 2.4% when compared to the same period last year. The labour force participation rate was 61.9%, an increase of 1.3% compared to last year.

Source: https://www2.staffingindustry.com/

Japan approves new policy for employment of Asian workers

JHRS — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 06:53:40 GMT

The Japanese government has pushed through a new immigration policy which will cover workers from China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, to take effect in April. The new policy will provide visas for blue collar foreign workers with skills in 14 industrial sectors, intended to address the nation’s considerable talent crunch.

Source: http://hrmasia.com/

Regulations regarding employment of disabled workers to be strengthened

JHRS — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 06:55:41 GMT

The government has decided to toughen regulations for the employment of disabled workers after ministries and agencies were found to have inflated their employment figures to meet legal quotas, sources close to the matter said Sunday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

80% of state bodies fail to meet disabled employee target

JHRS — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 03:54:00 GMT

State institutions were found to have a shortage of nearly 4,300 employees with disabilities in total. The National Tax Agency alone was more than 1,000 workers short of the required level.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan approves measures to help make life easier for foreign workers

JHRS — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 03:49:08 GMT

The government came up with a 126-point policy package aimed at facilitating the daily lives of foreigners who may not be used to Japanese culture and customs, earmarking 22.4 billion yen through the current and next fiscal year starting April.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan looks to draw new foreign workers outside big cities

JHRS — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 10:05:47 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government will encourage foreign workers coming in under a new visa program to spread out into outlying areas rather than congregate in the largest cities, according to a proposed policy package shown to a ruling party committee Monday.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Support services spring up for Japan's foreign workers

JHRS — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 10:00:57 GMT

TOKYO -- Support services for foreign nationals staying in Japan under the Technical Intern Training Program are proliferating as companies grapple with an increasingly acute labor shortage.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japanese workers take only half their paid vacation, survey finds

JHRS — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 09:57:27 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese workers took the fewest paid holidays among 19 countries and regions, and only half the time off to which they are entitled, according to an annual survey published Monday by online travel agency Expedia Japan.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Tokyo to prevent foreign hires from displacing Japanese workers

JHRS — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 09:58:56 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese employers can hire foreign-born workers on the condition that they retain current employees doing the same job, according to forthcoming government rules meant to address concerns about recently passed work visa legislation, Nikkei has learned.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan plans to make regional labor markets accessible to new foreign workers

JHRS — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 10:01:55 GMT

The government plans to take measures to make regional labor markets accessible to foreign blue-collar workers to avoid them concentrating in large cities such as Tokyo when the country starts admitting them under the new visa system next year, the government’s top spokesman said Thursday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan eyes accords with 8 Asian nations on foreign workers

JHRS — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 10:03:15 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government will seek bilateral agreements on foreign workers with eight Asian countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, under a new type of visa to be introduced in April.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan prepares support for incoming foreign workers

JHRS — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 09:12:37 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will assemble a package of measures to support an influx of foreign workers following Saturday's passage of a watershed revision to the immigration control law.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to seek bilateral deals on accepting foreign workers

JHRS — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 09:11:31 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government will seek to sign bilateral deals on conditions to accept workers from eight Asian countries, taking advantage of a new visa status to be introduced next April.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

In-house lawyers becoming more common in Japan, and nearly half of them are women

JHRS — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 09:05:39 GMT

In-house lawyers are becoming more common in Japan as a result of judicial system reform that was aimed at boosting the number of legal professionals and companies’ growing need to strengthen their legal work.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Tokyo firm to help non-Japanese find work under new visa category

JHRS — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 09:04:27 GMT

A company called one visa Inc., which supports online visa applications, has announced plans to launch new services for foreign workers hoping to come to Japan under a newly created visa category.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Language skills among foreign care workers a concern for nursing home officials

JHRS — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 09:13:26 GMT

While a new visa system approved by the Diet, set to take effect in April, has been welcomed by Japan’s labor-short nursing care businesses, questions remain about how to provide sufficient Japanese-language education for foreign workers.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s Labor Reform Caps Overtime in a Bid to Curb Karoshi

JHRS — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 09:06:59 GMT

From low productivity to the death of citizens by overwork, Japan’s labor practices have long maintained a complicated relationship with the country’s workforce. The problem of death by overwork is so prevalent the Japanese have created a word for it: karoshi. On June 29, 2018, Japan passed the “Work Style Reform Law” (the Law) to address some of these issues.

Source: https://www.natlawreview.com/

Japan supports local efforts to help disabled with employment

JHRS — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 05:35:22 GMT

JAPANESE Deputy Labour Minister Akira Miyakawa made an official visit to Yayasan Gamuda’s Enabling Academy, which serves as an Employment Transition Centre (ETC) that trains individuals on the autism spectrum for employment in corporate companies.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/

Local governments struggling to secure childcare workers

JHRS — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 05:37:26 GMT

TOKYO -- Local governments are desperately trying to recruit licensed childcare workers in a bid to address an acute shortage in daycare staff. As part of their strategy, they are emphasizing favorable labor conditions, such as short commuting distance and reasonable working hours, in a bid to attract licensed childcare workers among stay-at-home moms.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan’s job market softens in October amid labor crunch

JHRS — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 05:34:07 GMT

The nation’s labor market loosened slightly in October, government data showed Friday, though it remained near the tightest level seen in decades as companies struggled to find workers due to an aging population.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's lower house passes foreign worker bill as concerns mount

JHRS — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 05:32:18 GMT

TOKYO -- The lower house of Japan's parliament passed legislation on Tuesday that would open the country's doors wider to foreign workers, bringing the bill a step closer to enactment, but issues such as capping new arrivals and ensuring decent working conditions remain unresolved.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's foreign workers increasingly join labor unions

JHRS — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 05:41:58 GMT

TOKYO -- More foreign nationals working at Japanese companies are joining labor unions, and the service industry that needs their labor is discovering that treating foreigners well is essential to keeping them.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Under new visas, Japan will require firms to fund foreign workers’ return home when they can’t pay themselves

JHRS — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 06:26:12 GMT

The government plans to require companies hiring foreign nationals with planned new work visas to shoulder costs for their return home if the individuals cannot pay their own way, officials said.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Betting the Farm on Foreign Workers

JHRS — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 06:24:37 GMT

The Japanese government opening the door to unskilled foreign farm labor is the latest and most dramatic step to address labor shortages that threaten the survival of the nation’s agriculture industry. Journalist Aoyama Hiroko illuminates the forces driving recent policy changes while stressing the need for industry-level efforts to make Japan an attractive destination for migrant farm workers.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japanese firms starting to encourage employees to take naps at work

JHRS — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 06:23:21 GMT

Napping on the job is generally frowned upon, but a growing number of companies are offering new services and products to allow their employees to take a quick snooze at work to help manage their health and improve productivity.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

70% of grads in Japan who quit their first job within three years are happy they did

JHRS — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 06:27:27 GMT

Almost 71 percent of people in Japan who changed jobs within three years of joining a company after graduating from a university were satisfied with their career change, according to a recent survey.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s IT firms enthusiastically open doors to overseas tech workers

JHRS — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 04:26:04 GMT

The dozens of young Chinese engineers looked nervous, but eager, as they presented their work in English during a hack-athon in September at the high-rise Roppongi Hills complex in Tokyo.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Low pay propels most foreign interns who flee Japanese jobs

JHRS — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 04:22:03 GMT

TOKYO -- Low wages represent the principal reason that many foreign interns in Japan desert their jobs, a recent report by the Ministry of Justice found, highlighting that these workers often are regarded simply as a cheap way to plug Japan's ever-growing labor shortage.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan’s industries are ready to hire foreign workers, but concerns remain

JHRS — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:25:05 GMT

More than 345,000 blue-collar foreign laborers are expected to enter Japan within a five-year period starting from fiscal 2019, but expectations as to their status and potential appear to differ significantly between the industries they are set to join.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Record ratio of university graduates secure jobs

JHRS — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 04:24:09 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — A government survey showed Friday that 77.0 percent of job-hunting university students in Japan who are set to graduate in March next year had secured informal work contracts as of Oct. 1, up 1.8 percentage point from a year before.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com/

Japan's long-term jobless number hits record low

JHRS — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 04:34:56 GMT

The number of people out of work for more than a year came to 480,000, according to the Labor Force Survey for the July-September quarter released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications recently. That represents a drop of 30,000 on the previous quarter and is the lowest figure since the ministry began issuing quarterly surveys in 2002.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan’s job availability improves to fresh 44-year high in September

JHRS — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 04:30:38 GMT

The nationwide unemployment rate fell to 2.3 percent, down from 2.4 percent the previous month and remaining near the lowest level since the early 1990s, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

54% of Japanese in favor of accepting more foreign workers

JHRS — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 02:55:12 GMT

TOKYO -- The majority of the Japanese public backs Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plan to admit more foreign workers to address the nation's labor shortage, with support particularly strong among young people, the latest Nikkei survey shows.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Slow pace of new visa program doesn't bode well for success

JHRS — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 02:49:07 GMT

Only two fourth-generation people of Japanese ancestry living overseas have been granted permission to work in Japan since the government began accepting applications under a new visa program in late March to help solve a chronic labor shortage.

Source: http://www.asahi.com/

Workers in Japan to be able to receive salaries via smartphones

JHRS — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 02:52:34 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan plans to let businesses pay their employees with electronic money, such as via smartphone apps or payroll cards, a move expected to help foreign workers who lack bank accounts.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Cases of gender, disability bias deal big blow to Japan

JHRS — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 02:51:03 GMT

Education Minister Masahiko Shibayama said on Tuesday that an ongoing probe into gender bias at 81 medical universities found that the practice of unfairly docking marks in entrance exam scripts of female applicants appeared to be "quite widespread".

Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/

Abe vows to open Japan to 'work ready' talent

JHRS — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 02:56:34 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will create a new residence status to make it easier for more "work ready" foreigners to enter the country, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in his policy speech to open an extraordinary session of parliament.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Karaoke office: Japan shifts to unusual workspaces

JHRS — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 04:37:28 GMT

Unusual work venues are popping up all over Japan as firms try to move from chaining their employees to their desks towards offering staff more freedom in their working practices and as the gig economy spreads even to this temple of corporate culture. On the pavement in Tokyo's Marunouchi financial district, groups of businesspeople clutching laptops sit on pillows around a low table... in a camping tent surrounded by shimmering glass buildings.

Source: https://www.dailysabah.com/

Japan to offer foreign workers chance for permanent residency

JHRS — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 04:44:33 GMT

TOKYO -- Skilled workers that come to Japan will be eligible for a new type of visa that can be renewed indefinitely -- and thus essentially confers permanent residency -- as the nation races to relieve chronic labor shortages.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Health ministry encourages firms to help workers plan for retirement

JHRS — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 04:47:00 GMT

Company-run programs to help employees get a head start on preparing for retirement are flourishing in Japan as the country’s average life expectancy continues to grow.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan may refuse visas to workers from nations rejecting return of deported citizens

JHRS — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 03:34:39 GMT

TOKYO -- While Japan is set to up foreign worker numbers under new residency statuses expected to start next year, the Ministry of Justice is considering rejecting applications by individuals from countries that have refused to take back citizens deported by Japan in the past, according to people familiar with the ministry's thinking.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Keidanren's plan to rethink hiring rules causing waves in Japan

JHRS — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 03:30:12 GMT

TOKYO--Every spring, hordes of young people dressed in matching dark business suits descend on workplaces across Japan. They have not yet joined the ranks of the country's ubiquitous salarymen and women but rather are university students beginning a months-long job hunt.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Keidanren to scrap long-held Japan recruitment guidelines in 2021

JHRS — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 04:36:03 GMT

Keidanren said Tuesday it has decided to scrap its long-held guidelines for corporate hiring of university students to give flexibility in recruiting amid increasing competition for young and talented workers.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's business chiefs to scrap recruiting guidelines

JHRS — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 03:27:05 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's traditional recruiting practices, in which most new graduates start their first year of work at the same time in April, are coming under pressure as the country's labor shortage sharpens and demands grow for greater workforce diversity.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's new language test designed to ease labor immigration

JHRS — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 03:28:18 GMT

TOKYO -- Foreigners who want to work in Japan will be able to take a new test of Japanese language proficiency as soon as next April, one with a greater emphasis on practical expressions used in the workplace.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to help small businesses take on more foreign workers

JHRS — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 04:46:17 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government will provide assistance to small and midsize businesses employing or planning to employ foreigners, as the country seeks to secure enough labor to keep its economy humming.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan – Jobless rate falls to 2.5% in August, job availability steady

JHRS — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 04:48:27 GMT

Japan’s unemployment rate stood at 2.5% in August, down 0.3% when compared to the previous year according to data from Statistics Japan. The number of unemployed persons in August 2018 was 1.70 million, a decrease of 190,000 or 10.1% from the previous year.

Source: https://www2.staffingindustry.com/

Workers in Japan pressured to stay in jobs amid labor crunch

JHRS — Wed, 26 Sep 2018 04:44:01 GMT

There are growing reports of employees who want to change jobs facing harassment and intimidation from their own bosses, according to complaints received by regional labor bureaus.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan’s MoJ loosens employment rules for international graduates

JHRS — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 04:52:20 GMT

Japan’s Ministry of Justice has announced a significant loosening of rules around residency for international students in time for spring 2019. The initiative will mean that graduates can work in any role as long as they earn over an annual salary threshold of 3 million yen, or £20,462.70.

Source: https://thepienews.com/

Abe’s work-style reforms give Japan’s employers the green light to demand unpaid and unsafe overtime

JHRS — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 06:29:27 GMT

June 29, 2018: The law deemed to be the foundation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s much-vaunted reform of how we work, or hataraki-kata kaikaku, passed the upper House of Councilors on this day. Most of its provisions, which simply amend other laws, will come into effect next April, so it’s crucial we get a handle on them now.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Companies in Japan modifying work environments to meet rise in foreign employees

JHRS — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 06:35:00 GMT

Faced with a labor shortage stemming from its aging population, Japan is increasingly looking toward foreign nationals to boost its workforce. And as more Japanese nationals work alongside non-Japanese with different cultures and customs, some companies are modifying their working environments.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

The problem with padding employment records in Japan

JHRS — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 06:31:35 GMT

In August, it was reported that central government ministries and agencies, not to mention national legislative offices and local governments, have for years been fulfilling their legal responsibility to hire certain numbers of people with disabilities by fudging criteria for determining what qualifies as a disability.

Source:https://mainichi.jp/

Japanese firms against employees getting side jobs

JHRS — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 06:36:54 GMT

A survey conducted by the Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training found that three-quarters (75%) of Japanese companies do not want their employees to have side hustles, saying these may affect their workers’ main work.

Source: http://hrmasia.com/

Japan looks at ways to help foreign workers thrive

JHRS — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 06:08:51 GMT

TOKYO -- As Japan prepares to open its doors wider for foreign workers next April, the government is working to identify potential challenges they may face and draw up detailed solutions by the end of this year.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan weighs ending Saturday mail amid hiring slump

JHRS — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 06:13:45 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government is leaning toward limiting mail delivery to weekdays in order to ease the burden on a postal service stretched by labor shortages.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's Recruit employs AI to stop workers from quitting

JHRS — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 04:19:46 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese staff servicing group Recruit Holdings has launched an internal program that utilizes artificial intelligence to detect workers at risk of leaving the company, so that supervisors can intervene early.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan will encourage companies to employ workers until 70

JHRS — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 06:52:29 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government will pave the way for workers to stay employed until age 70 if they so choose, as part of its effort to reshape the workforce in the face of an aging and shrinking population.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's construction sites seek to be foreigner-friendly workplaces

JHRS — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 06:50:34 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's construction businesses appear headed for an even deeper labor shortage despite government efforts to attract foreign workers, unless the industry takes steps to make its jobs more appealing.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Proposed new residency rules allow work outside their field of study

JHRS — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 06:49:22 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will open up a wider path to residency status for international students as soon as next spring, allowing them to work in any field after graduation as long as they clear an annual income threshold of 3 million yen ($26,900).

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Government agencies allegedly padded hiring stats for disabled workers by over 3,000

JHRS — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 05:05:58 GMT

Government agencies may have padded their hiring records for people with disabilities by well over 3,000 people, informed sources said Saturday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan firms welcome skilled foreign workers, frown at unskilled laborers: Reuters poll

JHRS — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 05:45:42 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Most Japanese companies support loosening the country’s tight immigration system to cope with a severe labor shortage, but they favor skilled workers who can fit into the workplace, not an influx of unskilled laborers, a Reuters poll shows.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Japan firms welcome skilled foreign workers, frown at unskilled labourers: Reuters poll

JHRS — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 05:07:18 GMT

The labour market in fast-ageing Japan is its tightest in nearly half a century and the government has cracked open the door to allow foreigners to work in such areas as farming, at car factories and in convenience stores.

Source: https://www.moneycontrol.com/

Japan probing ministries over padded employment rates of disabled

JHRS — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 05:44:03 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan has begun investigating ministries and agencies suspected of having padded its employment rates of people with disabilities for over 40 years to match a legal requirement, government sources said Thursday.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan might give Monday mornings off to workers

JHRS — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 05:38:53 GMT

The Japanese government is mulling over plans to give Monday mornings off to its workers to fight overwork. The government plans to enact “Shining Monday” – where once a month, workers will get to have a lie-in on Monday morning, and only clock in after lunch.

Source: https://www.peoplematters.in/

Companies across Japan take action to protect employees from unruly customers

JHRS — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 05:37:27 GMT

A campaign is underway among Japanese companies to clarify rules that protect employees from unruly customers as labor shortages drive public-facing industries to improve their work conditions.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan June real wages rise at fastest pace since 1997

JHRS — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 04:59:34 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese workers' inflation-adjusted real wages rose in June at the fastest pace in more than 21 years, fuelled by an increase in summer bonuses, government data showed, in an encouraging sign that consumer spending and inflation will pick up.

Source: https://www.firstpost.com/

Japan urges overworked employees to take Monday mornings off

JHRS — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 04:56:58 GMT

Japan’s government is to urge companies to give employees Monday mornings off in its latest attempt to improve the country’s poor record on work-life balance.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/

Japan's labor crunch is reshaping how companies attract workers

JHRS — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 05:00:27 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Misaki Harada wants to quit her job as a receptionist at a restaurant management company in Tokyo and move into marketing for an apparel maker.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Japan likely to raise bonuses for government workers for fifth year

JHRS — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 06:47:42 GMT

The National Personnel Authority is scrutinizing government survey data on private-sector bonuses for winter 2017 and summer 2018 before making recommendations on government pay revisions to the Diet and the Cabinet as soon as early August.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Fourth-generation Japanese descendants overseas seek to bring in families under new residency program

JHRS — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 05:09:06 GMT

The new residency program introduced last year to give fourth-generation descendants of Japanese overseas opportunities to live and work in Japan has raised hopes the government will ease the conditions to let family members come along — a privilege afforded to third-generation descendants.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's 5-year worker visa extended to manufacturing

JHRS — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 05:04:40 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's new residency program for overseas workers will be expanded to include key yet understaffed manufacturing fields that supply parts to automakers and other mainstay industries.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Number of nonregular workers in Japan hits record high in 2017

JHRS — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 05:01:41 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan had the highest number of nonregular workers in 2017, the government said Friday, reflecting the growing number of elderly people working after retirement.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Labor costs hit 16-year high as Japan pays workers more

JHRS — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 02:53:26 GMT

TOKYO -- Personnel expenses at Japan's large corporations have grown to their highest level in 16 years as a deepening shortage of workers has forced them to increase pay for part-timers.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Survey begun to aid pregnant employees

JHRS — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 02:50:30 GMT

The health ministry began its first-ever national survey earlier this month on the working conditions for pregnant women employed by small and medium-sized companies, as part of efforts to implement work style reforms to support them, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Death by overwork: Japan's Parliament tightens limits on overtime hours

JHRS — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 08:36:33 GMT

Japan’s Parliament tightened limits on overtime hours, responding to concerns about karoshi, or death by overwork, and seeking to improve productivity in a country where long hours are often more a custom than business necessity.

Source: https://www.business-standard.com/

Japan urges companies to invest more in their workers

JHRS — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 08:27:49 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese employers and employees will have to work together to improve workers' skills or risk being left behind by the digital revolution, according to the upcoming Annual Report on the Japanese Economy and Public Finance 2018.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Two Japan Supreme Court cases clarify when discrimination against fixed-term workers is OK

JHRS — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 03:03:24 GMT

June 1, 2018, is a day that will go down in Japanese labor law history. A single day saw two verdicts from two similar cases handed down by the Supreme Court, both based on the 2012 amendment to the Labor Contract Law.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Quarter of Japanese workers confess they want to kill their boss

JHRS — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 03:08:07 GMT

More than one-quarter of the Japanese workers taking part in a survey admitted that the thought of killing their boss had crossed their mind on at least one occasion, underlining the stresses that employees here are often under.

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Second jobs, once rare in Japan, are reshaping attitudes about work

JHRS — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 04:47:06 GMT

Workers are signing up for second jobs in record numbers to earn extra cash as wages stagnate, stirring hopes of a rise in consumer spending but adding to fears of overwork in a society notorious for long hours.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan set to loosen immigration rules for guest workers

JHRS — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 04:41:17 GMT

Japan is poised to adopt a new approach to immigration that will allow up to 500,000 guest workers into the country to ease labour shortages.

Source: https://www.ft.com/

Undocumented workers in a constant state of uncertainty

JHRS — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 04:54:58 GMT

People who live in a state of daily desperation sometimes react to their circumstances with violence against others or themselves and, while such actions are a manifestation of frustration, they can also alert the larger world to that frustration, even if it wasn’t intended.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Surveys find young generation in Japan positive about changing jobs

JHRS — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 05:12:02 GMT

TOKYO--Japan's young generation is positive about changing jobs, recent surveys have found, highlighting a shift in attitudes as more employment opportunities arise.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan sets goals for companies to prevent deaths from overwork

JHRS — Thu, 31 May 2018 05:18:27 GMT

A health ministry panel unveiled a draft plan Thursday to have at least 10 percent of companies introduce fixed rest hours for employees by 2020 as the country seeks to eliminate karōshi (death from overwork).

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

More college students want to get jobs at large companies

JHRS — Wed, 30 May 2018 05:16:27 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — College students in Japan increasingly prefer to work at major companies amid strong corporate appetite for workers due to the country’s labor shortages.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan's young entrepreneurs embrace foreign tourists and workers

JHRS — Sun, 27 May 2018 06:05:43 GMT

TOKYO -- With international tourism to Japan driving consumption in the graying society, younger entrepreneurs are tapping these visitors as well as foreign workers for business growth.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Telecommuting on the rise among Japan's disabled and distant workers

JHRS — Sun, 27 May 2018 05:58:54 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- In order to meet hiring obligations, companies and local governments are increasingly employing at-home workers who can more easily do their jobs remotely, rather than commuting to the workplace, because of disabilities.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Record 98% of Japan’s university graduates land jobs amid recovering economy

JHRS — Fri, 18 May 2018 04:09:42 GMT

A record-high 98 percent of newly minted university graduates landed jobs at the beginning of this fiscal year, government data showed Friday, reflecting a recovering economy.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s employers improving support for workers with early-onset dementia

JHRS — Sun, 13 May 2018 10:36:00 GMT

Katsushi Oshiro, 43, a former salesman diagnosed with early-onset dementia, takes a bus to the car dealership where he works four days a week, being careful to view his commuting route using photos and a map to avoid getting lost.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan must boost protection for sexual harassment victims, says Abe rival Noda

JHRS — Fri, 11 May 2018 03:48:36 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese cabinet minister called on Friday for a law to strengthen relief and protection for victims of sexual harassment, but stopped short of urging legal changes to make such acts a crime.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Despite diversity drive, Japan’s carmakers struggle to hire women engineers

JHRS — Fri, 11 May 2018 03:28:37 GMT

Facing the worst labor shortage in decades, Japan’s carmakers have seen the light: hire more women. The problem is they’re all having the same epiphany at the same time, and so now find themselves fighting over the world’s smallest pool of female engineering graduates.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan kicks inefficient work habits as labor crunch worsens

JHRS — Tue, 08 May 2018 03:16:59 GMT

TOKYO -- Apparel company Sanyo Shokai suffered a crushing blow three years ago when it lost one of its main income sources: a contract to make and sell Burberry products in Japan. To recover, management cut payroll and shifted more resources to online sales. Then, last September, it instituted a program that reflects far broader changes now sweeping corporate Japan.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's job-seeking students also facing sexual harassment

JHRS — Thu, 03 May 2018 01:06:59 GMT

TOKYO -- The case of former Vice Finance Minister Junichi Fukuda's alleged sexual harassment of a female TV reporter has put the spotlight on workplace sexual abuse. However, there appears to be little public awareness of job-seeking female college students falling victim to corporate harassers.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan Is Replacing Its Aging Construction Workers With Robots

JHRS — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 01:10:45 GMT

Japanese companies are facing a workforce automation problem. It’s not the kind you normally hear about, though — workers aren’t afraid they’ll lose their jobs to machines. Instead, the companies need to engineer robots to replace the droves of Japanese workers approaching retirement age.

Source: https://futurism.com/

63 teachers overworked to death in Japan in 10-year period

JHRS — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 02:43:38 GMT

TOKYO • Some 63 public school teachers in Japan died of overwork over a 10-year period up to 2016, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper has reported, marking the first time that data for such cases is being made public and putting greater scrutiny on the long hours faced by the country's teachers.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/

Senior-Citizen Workers in Japan Top 8 Million

JHRS — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 02:36:06 GMT

According to the 2017 Labor Force Survey conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of employed senior citizens (65 and older) in Japan reached a record 8.07 million. Elderly workers increased by 370,000 compared to 2016, bringing the ratio of senior citizens in the overall workforce of 65.3 million to 12.3%, also a record high.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Japanese workers banned from lifts for 45-minute 'decontamination period' after smoking

JHRS — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 02:37:53 GMT

A local government in central Japan has ordered smokers to complete a 45-minute “decontamination period” between stubbing out their last cigarette and using lifts in the city hall.

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Japan's workers win biggest pay raises in 20 years

JHRS — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 02:33:46 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese workers appear headed for their biggest wage increase in two decades as companies led by the logistics and retail sectors compete for a slice of the country's ever-shrinking workforce.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Shakeout in Japan Job Market Sets Big Caps Up to Beat Small Guys

JHRS — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 02:29:39 GMT

A stellar rally for smaller-sized Japanese companies over the last two years is about to face its biggest test yet should evidence emerge this earnings season that the country’s tight labor market is starting to erode profitability.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/

University students in Japan getting luckier with early job offers, survey finds

JHRS — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 05:41:41 GMT

Nearly 20 percent of the nation’s job-hunting university students had secured informal offers for next spring as of April 1, a private survey shows. The 19.9 percent figure is 5.4 points higher than a year ago, according to the survey by job data provider Recruit Career Co.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Post to scrap housing allowance for regular workers

JHRS — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 05:45:34 GMT

In an unusual move to narrow the pay gap between regular and nonregular employees, Japan Post Group will start phasing out the housing allowance for its regular employees in October, sources revealed.

Source: http://www.asahi.com/

Japanese firms recruiting more foreigners

JHRS — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 05:43:07 GMT

An informational meeting for Japanese companies seeking to hire South Koreans was held at the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo on Monday. Human resources officers from about 60 companies interested in hiring foreign workers, from such industries as real estate, food and transportation, took part in the meeting.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Female workers in Japan asked to take 'turns' with pregnancies to delay leave, report says

JHRS — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 05:02:21 GMT

Cultures of "matahara," or "maternity harassment," still present at Japanese workplaces, discourage women from having children, experts say, and may even influence when they become pregnant if they do.

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/

Student athletes gaining attention in Japan's job-hunting race

JHRS — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 04:01:57 GMT

As the pace picks up for new university graduates in the job-hunting race this spring in Japan, student athletes are drawing the attention of companies for having goal-minded qualities that could potentially make them superior candidates.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Companies more willing to give their smokers a kick in the butts

JHRS — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 04:45:35 GMT

Instead of letting employees light up as usual, Japanese companies are getting creative in encouraging their smokers to kick the habit, with some even introducing total bans or extra paid holidays for nonsmokers.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Mitsubishi Electric to reward workers for efficiency, not long hours

JHRS — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 04:39:15 GMT

TOKYO--Mitsubishi Electric Corp will begin rewarding employees who work efficiently and cut down on hours, a rare move in a country where staying at the office late into the night remains common.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan’s short-handed firms turn to refugees for labor fix

JHRS — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 03:55:26 GMT

At an office in Tokyo, a group of asylum-seekers clutching resumes listened to three companies describe their openings — rare opportunities in Japan’s often impenetrable job market.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s companies are beginning to rethink paternity leave policies

JHRS — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 03:57:41 GMT

When it comes to child care in Japan, women typically take on the lion’s share of the workload. Men, by comparison, are generally too exhausted after work to help out in any way.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's job availability eases in Feb. for 1st time since 2012

JHRS — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 03:53:19 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's job availability dropped for the first time in over five years and unemployment inched up slightly in February, government data showed Friday, with economists pointing to a temporary lull in strengthening labor demand.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

40% of firms to hire more grads in ’19, but not banks: survey

JHRS — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 05:33:24 GMT

Nearly 40 percent of major companies plan to hire more graduates in fiscal 2019 than they did the previous year, a survey of 112 companies shows, underscoring their positive stance on recruitment amid gains in earnings and an acute labor shortage.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Facing labour shortfall, Japan firms turn to refugees

JHRS — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 05:28:07 GMT

At an office in Tokyo, a group of asylum seekers clutching resumes listened to three Japanese companies describe their openings — rare opportunities in the country’s often impenetrable job market.

Source: https://citizen.co.za/

Japan labour unions squeeze small pay rise from top firms

JHRS — Sat, 17 Mar 2018 03:26:07 GMT

Japan’s labour unions have won pay rises for workers, although they’re still too small to generate the big increase in consumption that the Bank of Japan needs for inflation.

Source:http://www.gulf-times.com/

Yamato to offer contract workers permanent status

JHRS — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 03:23:42 GMT

Yamato, Japan’s largest package delivery company, is offering to convert thousands of contract staff into permanent employees in a sign of management panic amid the most severe labour shortage in four decades.

Source: https://www.ft.com/

Revised labor law gives staff on fixed-term contracts a route to job security, but some firms are already finding loopholes

JHRS — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 03:30:43 GMT

Acute shortages of manpower in Japan are prompting changes in the country’s labor market, and a new rule to facilitate the conversion of fixed-term contract workers into indefinite-term employees will come into full force in April.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Keidanren mulls earlier start to job interviews

JHRS — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 05:09:00 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, is considering allowing member companies to start job interviews for prospective graduates in March, three months earlier than currently, informed sources have said.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com/

Foreign employers have edge in battle for Japan's IT graduates

JHRS — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 04:57:39 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese companies are at a disadvantage against international rivals when hiring the country's young information technology professionals because of lower pay and self-imposed recruitment restrictions.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

‘Make or break’ job-hunting season begins for university students in Japan

JHRS — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 05:05:05 GMT

Job fairs were held across Japan on Thursday, kicking off the job-hunting season for students graduating from university next spring.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s Jobless Rate at Quarter-Century Low

JHRS — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 04:55:41 GMT

TOKYO—Japan’s jobless rate fell to a low of almost 25 years in January, while a ratio of job openings remained at a 44-year high, the latest signs that the labor market is tightening as the world’s third-largest economy continues its growth streak.

Source: https://www.wsj.com/

College graduates to be in high demand

JHRS — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 04:52:39 GMT

Many companies in Japan will start recruiting on Thursday for college students graduating in March next year. Graduates are expected to continue to be in high demand amid a labor shortage.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/

Japan plans to ease visa rules for skilled workers

JHRS — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 05:32:28 GMT

The government says it will consider an expansion of visa categories and easing of rules. The main target is technology professionals but it will also look at sectors with severe labour shortages such as care, construction, transport and agriculture.

Source: https://www.ft.com/

Companies compete to snag job changers

JHRS — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 05:38:04 GMT

The career-change market is booming, fueled by a recovering economy and a tight labor market in which the number of job openings significantly exceeds that of employees seeking to change jobs.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Abe calls for foreign employment review to bring in skilled workers from overseas

JHRS — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 05:34:44 GMT

In a bid to address the nation’s acute labor shortages, the government aims to draw up a plan by summer to reform the immigration system in order to allow in more professional and skilled foreign workers, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told the Council of Economic Fiscal Policy on Tuesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's parties spar over overtime system as government accused of bending data

JHRS — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 09:32:53 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's ruling and opposition parties wrangled Monday over a proposed expansion of an overtime work system, with the opposition suggesting the government deliberately manipulated a survey to make it look like the system could improve the country's chronic overwork problem.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Telework evolving in Japan to ensure smoother communication between employees

JHRS — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 09:31:32 GMT

TOKYO — Teleworking, a key part of the Japanese government’s “work style reform” initiative, is slowly evolving as a result of efforts to make up for the lack of communication among workers.

Source: https://www.todayonline.com/

Japan, short of workers, eyes hiking optional pension age beyond 70

JHRS — Sat, 17 Feb 2018 09:21:45 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan has okayed plans to let people choose to start drawing their state pensions beyond the age of 70 as it grapples with severe labor shortages, ballooning welfare costs and a shriveling tax base stemming from its greying population.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Japan – Government aims to lift employment rate for workers in their early 60s

JHRS — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:29:00 GMT

Japan’s government is aiming to lift the employment rate for people aged 60-64 up to 67% by 2020, from 63.6% in 2016, according to new government guidelines for policy measure.

Source: https://www2.staffingindustry.com/

Japanese government seeks to reduce repeat offenders through jobs program for ex-convicts

JHRS — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 09:24:26 GMT

SAITAMA – The Justice Ministry has helped a total of 128 past offenders find jobs within about a year after leaving prison since the establishment of specialized job centers in November 2016, ministry data showed Wednesday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

‘A warning to corporate Japan’: Tokyo firm pays out $700k for overworked employee death

JHRS — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 05:29:19 GMT

Tokyo-based Green Display Co. has settled a lawsuit with the family of a deceased former employee who died in a car accident caused by exhaustion, paying out $700,000 according to a report by The Asahi Shimbun.

Source: https://www.rt.com/

Japanese temp worker fights for labor rights as companies avoid hiring full-time staff

JHRS — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:24:37 GMT

One Wednesday in early December, Teruko Watanabe left home for her office job of almost 17 years at a consulting firm in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward. But it was the last time she made the commute, because when she got to the office she was informed her contract had been terminated.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

71% of Japanese firms short of workers: survey

JHRS — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 04:58:57 GMT

The poll was conducted from late November last year to mid-January, primarily through the ministry's 11 regional finance bureaus across Japan, and received responses from 1,341 companies ranging from large enterprises to medium and small businesses. Overall, the survey responses highlighted the growing impact of Japan's low birth rate, and the difficulty companies are having in getting and keeping sufficient numbers of employees.

Robust labor demand bolsters outlook for pay hikes, inflation

JHRS — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 04:55:19 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) — Japan’s job market is the tightest it’s been in more than 40 years, giving leverage to labor unions pressing for bigger pay hikes at annual wage negotiations and raising prospects for higher consumer spending and inflation.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan's job availability highest since 1974

JHRS — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 04:52:14 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's labor shortage shows no signs of abating, as data released Tuesday by the labor ministry showed job availability rising to a 44-year high. The country's unemployment rate also improved in 2017, falling below 3% for the first time in 23 years.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Cosmetic companies promote contract staff to regular workers

JHRS — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 03:37:28 GMT

The cosmetics industry has seen an increase in customers, partly because of the growth in foreign tourists in Japan. This has heightened the feeling that there are not enough beauty consultants and factory workers. Many companies are now giving employees permanent positions, aiming to improve customer service and maintain production levels.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Japan's career women find little to cheer since Abe promise

JHRS — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 03:43:19 GMT

TOKYO -- Five years after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised to create a workplace where women can "shine," or reach their full potential, only a fifth feel their conditions have improved, according to a Nikkei survey.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Let's get real about female equality in corporate Japan

JHRS — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 05:02:53 GMT

About 150 years after it opened up to the rest of the world, Japan is one of the globe's most developed, prosperous and democratic countries. But in some ways it remains a place apart, especially when it comes to the role of women in leadership posts.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to Allow Fourth-Generation Japanese Immigrants to Work

JHRS — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 03:45:16 GMT

The Justice Ministry said Monday it will solicit public comments on a new residence program allowing fourth-generation Japanese immigrants in South America and elsewhere to work in Japan.

Source: https://www.nippon.com/

Teething troubles in tapping into Japan pensions from abroad

JHRS — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 05:01:38 GMT

As reported in a previous Lifelines column, eligibility rules for old-age pensions were changed in August last year. You now need only to have been in the system for 10 years, rather than 25, in order to be eligible for payment after retirement.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Working Today / Retraining offers new lease on life

JHRS — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 04:59:09 GMT

“Recurrent education” — retraining — involves relearning the knowledge one needs for work. Slowly but surely, the number of people who are polishing their skills to take the next step in their careers is rising.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Analysis / Plan aims to keep willing elderly workers on the job

JHRS — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:00:07 GMT

The government’s plan to allow people to put off receiving pensions until after the age of 70 aims to encourage willing elderly citizens to keep working and stave off a labor shortage.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com/

Foreign trainee fatality data highlight safety and exploitation issues in Japan

JHRS — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 05:44:53 GMT

Work-related incidents in Japan killed 22 foreign trainees over a three-year period from fiscal 2014, government data showed Sunday, reflecting the risk that laborers brought here could face dangerous or exploitative conditions.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan relying on foreigners more to plug labor holes

JHRS — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 05:41:55 GMT

TOKYO -- As the Japanese labor force continues to shrink, companies are increasingly counting on foreigners to fill the gap, especially in such short-staffed businesses as construction and security.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japanese businesses backing cancer sufferers' wish to work

JHRS — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 05:43:13 GMT

TOKYO--Japanese companies are striving to make it possible for employees diagnosed with cancer to continue their work lives as normal, even while they undergo treatment.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan’s ‘workation’ encourage employees to take time off

JHRS — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 03:40:38 GMT

Japan Airlines set up a workation system last summer that applies to about 4,000 employees, not including those who work in shifts at airports and other places. Encouraging workers to take time off is the main goal. Some cases can be designated as workation, but others cannot.

Source: https://borneobulletin.com.bn/

Japanese firms struggle to get IT workers

JHRS — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 05:41:43 GMT

Companies across a wide range of industries using IT are struggling to secure talented workers, while shopping and services are increasingly going online and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding. If the issue is not addressed promptly, it may have a negative impact on the government’s growth strategy.

Source: https://borneobulletin.com.bn

‘Scientist and scholar’ ranks first in job popularity among Japanese boys for the first time in 15 years

JHRS — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 05:39:54 GMT

In an annual survey of the most popular jobs among preschoolers and elementary schoolers, the “scientist and scholar” job category clinched the top spot among Japanese boys for the first time in 15 years, following the recent Nobel Prize awards to Japanese scientists, Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. has said.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Uniqlo opens its doors to job-seeking asylum-seekers at home and abroad

JHRS — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 05:36:39 GMT

Fast Retailing Co., the parent company of major retailer Uniqlo, has put out the welcome mat for Japan’s small number of recognized refugees, offering job opportunities for some who might dream of careers in fashion or sales.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Forestry industry has growing appeal for Japan’s young women

JHRS — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 04:25:28 GMT

The lure of nature and a slower pace of life are attracting a growing number of young women to Japan’s traditionally male-dominated forestry business, and their participation may help it cope with an aging workforce and a shortage of manpower.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Abuses still abound in labor-strapped Japan’s foreign ‘trainee’ worker system

JHRS — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 04:23:05 GMT

In 2016, the Labor Standards Inspection Office inspected 5,672 workplaces hiring foreign “trainees” across the country. The office then found that 70.6 percent of them, or 4,004, were violating labor laws and related ordinances, including those governing work hour limits, safety measures and wage payments.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Workers in Japan may see 1% pay raise in 2018 as labor crunch intensifies

JHRS — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 04:26:28 GMT

Workers will see a 1 percent increase in their total earnings next year, the most since 1997, as rising profits and the tightest labor market in decades add upward pressure on pay, a Bloomberg survey shows.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's drop in global gender gap ranking highlights lack of initiative by Abe gov't

JHRS — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 04:19:54 GMT

Dec. 26 marks five years since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's return to power. While he likes to boast about the accomplishments of his administration such as business improvements and stock price growth, looking at Japan's places in international rankings including women's statuses and competitiveness, one cannot help but feel concerned about the country's future.

Source: https://mainichi.jp

Uniqlo's refugee-hiring picking up steam; still problems ahead

JHRS — Sat, 23 Dec 2017 03:14:54 GMT

TOKYO--Fast Retailing Co, the parent company of major retailing chain Uniqlo, has put out the welcome mat for Japan's small number of recognized refugees, offering job opportunities for some who might dream of careers in fashion or sales one day.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Holiday labour shortage hits businesses in Japan, some have to shut during festive season

JHRS — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 03:18:16 GMT

TOKYO (THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Restaurants and the distribution industry are scrambling to find enough part-time workers to meet rising demand during the festive season, resulting in offers of higher wages and other perks to attract more employees.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/

Japan firms introduce fun activities at work to improve employees' health

JHRS — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 03:16:32 GMT

TOKYO (THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - An increasing number of companies in Japan have been taking measures to help employees stay in good health as part of their management strategies, aiming to improve productivity or brush up their corporate image.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/

Work reform spells bigger profits for Japan Inc., survey finds

JHRS — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:50:09 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese companies that succeed in creating vibrant work environments also boost their chances of realizing record earnings, with innovation and high productivity likely driving their growth, a Nikkei Inc. study shows.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Companies can monitor employees working overtime using in-office flying drones

JHRS — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 05:31:45 GMT

TOKYO--While massive amounts of overtime remains a prominent aspect of many jobs in Japan, recently there’s been a slight shift in attitudes. Compared to the past at least, more companies today are willing to say, “You know, if so many of our employees are still at their desks long after the workday is supposed to be done, maybe they’re dangerously overworked.”

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Many Japanese companies have no reduced-work system for cancer employees

JHRS — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 03:52:55 GMT

TOKYO--About 70 percent of responding major Japanese companies do not have a system to allow employees with cancer to work a reduced schedule or at home while undergoing treatment for the disease, a Kyodo News survey showed Saturday.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Japan may cut corporate tax rate to 20% through incentives

JHRS — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 03:47:57 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government is considering rewarding businesses that increase wages and invest in productivity growth by offering tax breaks that could lower their effective tax rates to as low as 20% or so.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Oct. job openings ratio highest since Jan. 1974

JHRS — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 03:50:41 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The seasonally adjusted ratio of effective job openings to seekers in October rose 0.03 point from the previous month to 1.55, the highest level since January 1974, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said Friday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Opportunities for foreigners in Cool Japan industries eyed

JHRS — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 05:22:00 GMT

The government is considering a plan to increase the number of foreigners engaged in work related to the Cool Japan initiative, such as in the anime and fashion fields, through relaxed requirements for resident status enabling them to work in Japan.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Corporate Japan hit by severe labour shortages

JHRS — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 05:20:43 GMT

Japanese companies are scouring the country for workers and offering more attractive permanent contracts as they struggle to overcome the worst labour shortages in 40 years.

Source: https://www.ft.com/

Labor ministry to extend job program to social recluses and NEETs in early 40s

JHRS — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 05:04:18 GMT

The government has decided to expand the scope of its job support program for socially withdrawn people, which is limited to those 39 or younger, to include people in their early 40s, labor ministry officials said Saturday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan eyes taxing high-paid employees more, freelancers less

JHRS — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 05:00:39 GMT

TOKYO -- High-earning company employees in Japan could pay more in taxes, while freelancers could pay less, under a new Ministry of Finance plan for fiscal 2018 that would reduce a break for worker salaries while increasing the basic exemption for all.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to review employment income deduction system

JHRS — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 04:58:03 GMT

The government and the ruling bloc plan to review the employment income deduction system as part of tax reform for fiscal 2018, according to Yoichi Miyazawa, tax chief of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Convincing Japanese Workers to Work Less

JHRS — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 03:53:08 GMT

A company in Tokyo is using the "Rocky" theme song to inspire Japanese workers to leave the office. It's one way Japan is trying to shed a rigid work culture and boost productivity.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/

Job availability in Japan remains high amid labor crunch

JHRS — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 03:54:39 GMT

The job-to-applicant ratio stood at 1.52, unchanged from August, meaning that 152 positions were available for every 100 job seekers. It remained at the highest level since February 1974, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Non-smokers get six days extra paid leave to make up for smokers' cigarette breaks at Japanese firm

JHRS — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 11:06:13 GMT

A Japanese company is granting non-smoking employees an extra six days of paid holidays a year after they complained that they were working more than staff who took time off for cigarette breaks.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

More firms introducing anti-smoking measures

JHRS — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 11:08:04 GMT

TOKYO--An increasing number of Japanese companies are stepping up efforts to protect employees from the health hazard of smoking at a time when the central and local governments are studying measures to curb the public's exposure to secondhand smoke.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Mizuho mulls cutting 19,000 employees worldwide in 10-year cull

JHRS — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 11:03:48 GMT

Mizuho Financial Group Inc. is considering cutting about 19,000 employees in Japan and abroad over a 10-year period, accounting for one-third of its entire labor force, a source familiar with the matter said Saturday.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s young job-hoppers are feeling more secure than they have in years

JHRS — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 05:10:32 GMT

TOKYO: When Japan’s largest package-delivery company announced that it was raising pay in response to a severe shortage of drivers, Shota Fukuyama answered the call.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Airports set up child care facilities to meet demand for workers

JHRS — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 09:34:58 GMT

TOKYO -- Flight attendants and ground staff who work irregular shifts can now more easily return to work after childbirth as some airports have set up flexible nursery facilities for their children.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

To court workers, Japanese firms try being more gay-friendly

JHRS — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 09:31:04 GMT

TOKYO — Once a week, the Japanese insurance company where Mr Shinsuke Nakamura works tries to enliven its morning staff meeting by having employees give personal presentations. The topics tend to be mostly innocuous: hobbies, pets or wine recommendations.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/

Japan workers' wages rise in positive sign for consumer spending

JHRS — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 09:11:02 GMT

[TOKYO] Wages of Japanese workers rose in August from a year earlier, reversing from the previous month's decline, in a sign of a gradual pick-up in workers' income amid a tightening labour market.

Source: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/

Japan’s airports plan to open more day care centers on-site to promote employee retention

JHRS — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 09:07:43 GMT

Airport operators in Japan are looking to open day care centers at their facilities in an effort to keep airline and airport staff from leaving their jobs after having children.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Ceremonies for new employees held

JHRS — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 09:06:07 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Major businesses on Monday held ceremonies for university students and graduates to whom they have made offers of employment next spring.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese companies struggle to hire, retain staff as labor shortage worsens

JHRS — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 04:29:56 GMT

Source: http://www.reuters.com/

Japan's manufacturing employment hits 7-year high

JHRS — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:28:40 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese manufacturing-sector employment averaged more than 10 million workers from January to August, exceeding that mark for the first time since 2010 as companies bring more production home while exports recover on a mild global economic recovery.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to open more agriculture jobs to foreign trainees

JHRS — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 04:26:50 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will offer workers from overseas on-the-job training in processing agricultural goods, seeking to relieve a labor shortage for employers that increasingly handle aspects of the farming business beyond producing.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Hokkaido ‘workations’ breathe fresh air into telecommuting

JHRS — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 06:14:21 GMT

SHARI, HOKKAIDO – With a view of Mount Shari in the distance and an ocean breeze wafting in from the Sea of Okhotsk, working in this coastal community in northeastern Hokkaido is certainly an escape from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese firms boost measures to promote employee health, enhancing their image in the process

JHRS — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 06:13:22 GMT

Some companies are ramping up efforts to maintain and improve the health of their employees, such as sending them to remote health resorts where they can learn beneficial exercise techniques and other strategies to improve their daily lives.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Non-regular workers rate rises to 37%

JHRS — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 06:12:17 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Non-regular workers accounted for 37.2 percent of overall employees in Japan in 2016, up 2.8 percentage points from 2011, the labor ministry said Tuesday.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com

Japan considers easing residency requirements for foreign students in anime, design and food industries

JHRS — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 07:58:35 GMT

The government is discussing plans to relax residency requirements for foreign students in Japan studying anime, design and culinary professions to make it easier for them to find jobs here after graduation, sources said.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan firms using resorts to keep employees health-savvy

JHRS — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 07:59:45 GMT

Some Japanese companies are ramping up efforts to maintain and improve employees' health, such as sending employees to a remote health resort where they can acquire exercise habits.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/

Japan Post must compensate nonregular workers on allowances but not pay: district court

JHRS — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 08:01:22 GMT

The Tokyo District Court on Thursday ordered state-backed Japan Post Co. to partially compensate three contract workers who sued for being treated as less than full-time employees doing the same work, but dismissed their demand for equal pay.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Labor shortage forces fast food chains, convenience stores to turn to housewives

JHRS — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 03:03:20 GMT

As Japan's labor shortage worsens, fast food chains and convenience stores are trying to appeal the merits of their workplaces to a new possible labor force -- housewives.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japanese firms stepping up measures to keep employees healthy

JHRS — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 02:58:12 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Some Japanese companies are ramping up efforts to maintain and improve employees' health, such as sending employees to a remote health resort where they can acquire exercise habits.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan eyes longer stays, safeguards for farmhands from overseas

JHRS — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 02:56:57 GMT

As foreigners become eligible for jobs at Japanese farms inside designated economic zones, the government is crafting guidelines to protect the interests of these workers while also providing much-needed labor in the country's aging, far-flung regions.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Labor ministry asks panel for advice on planned legislation for work style reform

JHRS — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 02:54:45 GMT

The labor ministry asked Friday a government panel for advice on a planned bill for work style reforms, including new overtime caps and measures to help realize equal pay for equal work.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Tight market and new labor law improving job security for Japan’s army of contract workers

JHRS — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 05:28:31 GMT

Japan’s labor market is getting so tight that companies are starting to convert contract and part-time workers into full-time, regular employees to prevent them from leaving — a move that could lift wages and spending but squeeze profits.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan is reversing easy hire and fire ways for full-time dedicated workers

JHRS — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 05:23:42 GMT

Japan's labour market is getting so tight that companies are starting to convert contract and part-time workers into full-time, regular employees to prevent them from leaving - a move that could lift wages and spending but squeeze profits.

Source: https://www.thenational.ae/

Japan turns contract workers into permanent staff as labour market tightens

JHRS — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 03:01:18 GMT

JAPAN’S labour market is getting so tight that companies are starting to convert contract and part-time workers into full-time, regular employees to prevent them from leaving – a move that could lift wages and spending but squeeze profits.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/

Japan experiments with four-day work week

JHRS — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 05:36:19 GMT

TOKYO – More companies are reviewing the practice of working long hours while emphasizing improved working efficiency, with some adopting new systems for time off or utilizing artificial intelligence.

Source: https://www.postguam.com/

Japan's jobs-to-applicants ratio ticks up again in July

JHRS — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 05:29:41 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's job openings-to-applicants ratio came to 1.52 in July on seasonally adjusted terms, rising 0.01 of a point from June and improving for the fifth straight month, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said on Tuesday.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan’s job availability at 43-year high, jobless rate steady

JHRS — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 05:21:14 GMT

Job availability improved for a fifth consecutive month to a 43-year high while the unemployment rate remained unchanged in July, government data showed Tuesday, highlighting Japan’s ongoing labor shortage issue.

Source:https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Over 80% of forthcoming university grads in Japan have a job offer

JHRS — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 05:32:17 GMT

Over 80 percent of job-hunting university students had secured at least one informal job offer for next spring as of Aug. 1, according to a private survey.

Source: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Startup asks job seekers to go fishing with the boss

JHRS — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 05:38:03 GMT

TOKYO -- For startups, recruiting young talent can be difficult. So, CyberBuzz, a Tokyo-based online marketer, has come up with a rather unconventional way to "connect" with promising students before they are poached by big companies.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Japanese firms hiring more people with mental health issues

JHRS — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 05:35:04 GMT

TOKYO--Companies in Japan are becoming more active in hiring people with mental health issues as they prepare for a new law on the employment of people with disabilities due to take effect next spring.

Source: https://japantoday.com/

Female lawmakers in Japan still face discrimination over pregnancy

JHRS — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 04:25:31 GMT

TOKYO — It is becoming more common for female employees to take maternity leave in Japan, but female politicians still get taunted even for becoming pregnant.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/

Record number of foreign trainee employers violate labor laws in ’16

JHRS — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 04:22:57 GMT

The number of factories, offices and other business bases where such law violations were found came to 4,004 across the country, the highest level since 2003, the earliest year for the existing data, the ministry said.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Rising labor costs, especially for part-time help, cast shadows on Japan Inc.

JHRS — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 05:06:05 GMT

According to a labor ministry survey for June released on Friday, the average hourly pay of part-time workers rose 3.1 percent from a year earlier, up for the 64th straight month.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

A first for Japan: Regular jobs for every applicant

JHRS — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 05:33:41 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan had more than one regular full-time job opening for every applicant on average -- the first this has occurred since November 2004 when the government started collecting data.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com

Japan’s labour shortage hits new extreme

JHRS — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 05:32:20 GMT

Labour shortages in Japan have reached a new level of severity, with more permanent jobs open than there were applicants for the first time on record.

Source: https://www.ft.com/

A first for Japan: Regular jobs for every applicant

JHRS — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 05:08:08 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan had more than one regular full-time job opening for every applicant on average -- the first this has occurred since November 2004 when the government started collecting data.

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/

Workplace abuse of employees with disabilities on the decline in Japan, labor ministry report shows

JHRS — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 05:25:01 GMT

The number of cases in which disabled people were abused by their employers decreased 13.4 percent in the year ending March 2017, the labor ministry said Wednesday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan aims to reduce suicides by 30% in 10 years with measures to curb overwork

JHRS — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 05:30:20 GMT

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan aims to cut suicides by 30 per cent over 10 years, with the government on Tuesday (July 25) approving a plan which seeks to curb extreme work hours seen as contributing to one of the world's highest suicide rates.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/

Japan's foreign workers want faster promotions, pay raises

JHRS — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 03:49:53 GMT

TOKYO -- Foreign workers in Japan now total more than 1 million, and they form an indispensable part of the country's labor force. The government and business see them as not just a workforce to compensate for worker shortages, but as a force to revitalize the economy. Expectations are especially high for foreign workers with specialized knowledge or skills.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan’s millennials tend to sacrifice higher earnings for job security, thwarting BOJ’s economic reforms

JHRS — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 03:52:17 GMT

Millennials in Japan have little interest in the job-hopping ways of their overseas counterparts, seeking stability and security instead. That is thwarting the Bank of Japan’s efforts to jolt the economy back to life.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Obtaining Japan Inc.'s stamp of approval

JHRS — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 06:19:58 GMT

The Global Human Resource Career Support Association is offering an exam to certify job-hunting foreigners, not only in Japanese fluency but also in business etiquette, communication skills and customer care.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to make 104-day annual leave mandatory for skilled workers

JHRS — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 06:22:59 GMT

Japan is seen obliging companies to give annual leave of at least 104 days to skilled professionals under an envisaged system to scrap working hour limits for such highly paid employees, it was learned Tuesday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan's workers are enjoying the biggest wages boom since 2000

JHRS — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 05:34:19 GMT

Japan’s labour market is, on the surface, incredibly strong right now. The national unemployment rate sits at just 3.1% while the jobs-to-applicants ratio — simply the number of jobs available compared to those seeking work — now stands at the highest level since February 1974.

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/

Japan Inc scrambles for job-hoppers to cope with labor shortages

JHRS — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 05:37:52 GMT

Japan's labor shortage has pushed job-hopping to its highest since the global financial crisis, as companies scramble for workers with experience in the rapidly-ageing economy.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Job availability in Japan climbs to highest level in more than four decades

JHRS — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 05:41:39 GMT

Job availability rose to its highest level in over four decades in May, government data showed Friday, highlighting evidence that labor is in short supply.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Foreign IT workers seen as solution to industry shortage

JHRS — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 05:38:32 GMT

There is a rising demand for IT engineers in Japan as many point out there is a shortage of such professionals domestically. An estimate shows that Japan will face a shortage of close to 600,000 IT-related professionals by 2030.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

New employees ready to challenge Japan’s ‘work-first’ culture, study shows

JHRS — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 05:44:35 GMT

In the survey conducted jointly by the Japan Productivity Center and the Junior Executive Council of Japan on 1,882 workers participating in training sessions in March and April, 48.7 percent of participants responded positively to the notion of leaving the office when their work was done, up 9.9 percent from a year before.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's older employees are now using robotic suits to help them lift heavy loads

JHRS — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 05:40:18 GMT

A distribution and storage management company in Japan, where the population is ageing faster than any other country in the world, has introduced a robotic harness called a Power Assist Suit to support their older employees.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/

Job opportunities for disabled diversifying through new local projects

JHRS — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 05:19:17 GMT

Providing employment opportunities for the disabled is changing from being perceived as "support" activities to a diverse market breaking new ground by meeting individual and community needs as well as boosting local economies.

Source: https://mainichi.jp/

Japan Inc says shrinking domestic market, worker shortage are biggest headaches

JHRS — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 05:11:59 GMT

Japanese firms say shrinking domestic demand is their biggest worry over the next three years while labor shortages are a close second, a Reuters poll found, highlighting the difficulties of coping with a dwindling and rapidly aging population.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/

Japan’s tourism, real estate sectors actively seeking foreign workers

JHRS — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 05:08:50 GMT

The nation’s hotel operators and real estate firms are ramping up their hiring of foreign workers to capitalize on booming in-bound tourism and increasing property investment from wealthy overseas buyers.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s corporations make strides to foster inclusive LGBT work environment

JHRS — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 04:52:38 GMT

In May 2015, Hiroki Inaba, vice president of Goldman Sachs Japan Co.’s legal department, came out as gay, after almost 13 years with the company and 10 years since the company established its LGBT Network, which was formed by staff to promote understanding of sexual minorities.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Government finds 27 cases of suspected illegal job placement

JHRS — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 04:56:16 GMT

The government said Thursday it has confirmed 27 cases of suspected illegal job placement for retired or retiring bureaucrats, but none were conducted systematically as in a previous case at the education ministry.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Amid labor shortage, Japan Inc. looks at 4-day workweek

JHRS — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 04:51:16 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — In the face of acute labor shortages, a number of businesses have adopted four-day workweeks and others are looking at the option in a bid to secure personnel by offering more diverse ways of work.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Amid labor shortage and need to care for kids and seniors, Japan Inc. warming to four-day workweek

JHRS — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 04:05:30 GMT

In the face of acute labor shortages, a number of Japanese businesses have adopted four-day workweeks and others are looking at the option in a bid to secure personnel by offering more diverse ways to work.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

With stagnant minimum wage, a ‘decent life’ is out of reach

JHRS — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 03:58:24 GMT

One of the bedrock principles of market economics is that as demand for labor goes up, so do wages. Lately, there has been evidence that this idea may no longer be true.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's young job hunters enjoy a seller's market

JHRS — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 04:01:08 GMT

TOKYO--Tokyo's central business district was the scene of an annual ritual on the morning of June 1, the first "official" day of job interviews, as students clad in black suits streamed into the offices of big companies.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Over 60% of Japanese students graduating next spring have job offers

JHRS — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 04:02:54 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's businesses are lunging to hire fresh college graduates amid a labor shortage, with three in five students graduating next spring having already secured preliminary job offers.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's small companies make big push to land recruits

JHRS — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 05:29:07 GMT

TOKYO -- Small and midsize businesses in Japan are scrambling to attract talented college students who graduate next March, as they face increasingly tough competition from larger companies amid the tightest labor market in decades.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

The young Japanese working themselves to death

JHRS — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 05:23:21 GMT

Japan has some of the longest working hours in the world, and some young Japanese workers are literally working themselves to death. Now there are calls for the government to do more.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/

Japan’s big firms kick off job interviews with 2018 recruits

JHRS — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 05:27:14 GMT

Japan’s top firms started holding interviews and examinations Thursday as they kicked off their annual recruitment drive for university students expected to graduate in spring 2018.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Inc. steps up hunt for full-time workers

JHRS — Wed, 31 May 2017 05:25:41 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese companies are increasing hiring of full-time employees as they scramble to secure workers amid a labor shortage, raising hopes that the tight demand will translate to higher wages.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

In Japan, single mothers struggle with poverty and a ‘culture of shame’

JHRS — Sun, 28 May 2017 05:13:39 GMT

OSAKA, Japan — The country suffered a “lost decade,” and then another one, after its bubble burst some 25 years ago. To this day, despite Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to reinvigorate it, Japan’s economy remains in the doldrums.

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/

To reduce work stress, Japan firms turn to office cats, dogs and goats

JHRS — Thu, 25 May 2017 05:15:46 GMT

Workaholic Japan is known for long office hours and stressed-out employees, but one company claims to have a cure: cats. A total of nine fluffy felines eat, sleep and walk freely in the small office of IT firm Ferray in Tokyo.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s shrinking population: Aging nation faces shortage of workers

JHRS — Sun, 21 May 2017 05:10:54 GMT

Japan is the world’s senior citizen. Decades of improving life expectancy and falling birth rates have produced a rapidly aging and shrinking population. The demographic shift is threatening the existence of rural communities, contributing to a ballooning public debt and starving the economy of labor.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/

Japanese robotics startups look to foreign talent

JHRS — Sun, 21 May 2017 05:00:41 GMT

TOKYO -- Foreign software engineers and other information technology specialists are increasingly joining Japan's robotics startups. They believe the industry offers them ample opportunity to put their skills into action as Japanese industry is willing to adopt more robots. Lack of engineers in Japan is also prompting startups to look overseas for talent.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan sees record employment for univ. graduates amid labor shortage

JHRS — Fri, 19 May 2017 04:56:59 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A record-high 97.6 percent of new university graduates in Japan have landed jobs as of the April 1 start of the 2017 business year, government data showed Friday, reflecting demand from companies amid the nation's labor shortage.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Can Japan, land of lifetime employment, handle the rise of freelancers?

JHRS — Sun, 14 May 2017 04:35:00 GMT

The rise of freelancing represents a significant shift from Japan’s traditional lifetime employment system. After serving as the main pillar of the postwar labor system for decades, lifetime employment has virtually collapsed amid the multiple recessions brought on by the bubble economy’s implosion in the early 1990s and the 2008 global financial crisis.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Govt names over 300 companies, in bid to prevent abuses and death by overwork

JHRS — Sat, 13 May 2017 04:41:01 GMT

TOKYO • The Japanese government has for the first time released a nationwide list of over 300 companies that have violated labour laws, hoping this name-and-shame tactic would help eliminate abuses and prevent "karoshi", or death by overwork.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/

Companies squirm as tricky labor law revision on switching employment status closes in

JHRS — Mon, 08 May 2017 04:37:51 GMT

The issue of whether to give nonregular workers permanent status has bedeviled companies and employees alike, especially with the end of a five-year waiting period on a labor law revision looming in less than a year.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Survey: Female workers in managerial jobs rise to 8.3%

JHRS — Fri, 05 May 2017 03:31:15 GMT

About 80 percent of major companies in Japan have increased the proportion of female employees in managerial posts — meaning section chief or higher — since the Law on Promotion of Women’s Participation and Advancement in the Workplace was enforced in April 2016, according to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com/

Most nonregular workers ignorant of new labor rule allowing for indefinite employment: survey

JHRS — Fri, 05 May 2017 03:29:41 GMT

Most nonregular workers are unaware of a new rule that enables them to work until mandatory retirement age after spending five years at the same company, an online survey has shown.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Yamato to hire 9,000 new workers, covering payroll costs through fee hike

JHRS — Wed, 03 May 2017 03:27:53 GMT

Leading parcel delivery provider Yamato Holdings Co. is aiming to hire about 9,200 new workers in the current year through next March to reduce overtime among delivery personnel, company sources said Wednesday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan – Labour shortage fuels growth in permanent workers

JHRS — Wed, 03 May 2017 03:25:46 GMT

The number of permanent jobs in Japan grew by 260,000 in March when compared to a year ago, rising for the first time since the global financial crisis and outpacing growth in temporary jobs over the past two years.

Source: http://www2.staffingindustry.com/

Job openings ratio increases to highest level since 1990

JHRS — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 03:59:22 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry reported Friday that the country’s average ratio of job openings to seekers in the year that ended last month rose 0.16 points from the previous year to 1.39, the highest score since it hit 1.43 in fiscal 1990, when Japan was still in an asset bubble-led boom.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

71% support equal pay for equal work

JHRS — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 04:00:40 GMT

Seventy-one percent of poll respondents think equal compensation should be paid to those who have the same ability, performance and length of service as other employees, regardless of their employment status as regular or non-regular workers, according to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey conducted between mid-March and mid-April by mail.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan Inc braces for labor reform, plans to boost productivity -Reuters poll

JHRS — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 06:20:48 GMT

TOKYO - Japan's plans to implement more employee-friendly laws are set to prove painful for many companies, with half saying labor costs will rise and two-thirds considering ways to lift productivity to offset the impact of the reforms, a Reuters poll showed.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/

Government panel to push limited regular employment system

JHRS — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 06:27:19 GMT

A government panel on regulatory reform is in discussions to urge more widespread adoption of the limited regular employment system, in which regular workers are hired on open-ended contracts with limits on their work location or hours.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan convenience stores plan next generation of self-checkout

JHRS — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 06:17:06 GMT

TOKYO -- Seven-Eleven Japan and four other major convenience store operators in the country will introduce self-checkout registers that can read the prices of items that are still in a basket, the latest effort to cope with a severe lack of manpower.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

More companies open to allowing employees to work at home

JHRS — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 05:46:41 GMT

Teleworking, a work style that features telecommunications technology that allows people to work at any time or place, is becoming common, buoyed by a recent trend to require a review of conventional work approaches, as well as an improvements in the security level of computers.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Grueling work hours trigger spike in suicides by Japanese employees

JHRS — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 04:27:30 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan’s unusually long hours on the job have triggered a health crisis. An alarming rise in suicide among overworked employees has finally forced the government to limit overtime. But the proposed new ceiling on overtime is so high -- 100 hours per month -- critics say it still won’t protect workers.

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/

Japan's wage growth weak for second year in a row

JHRS — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 05:50:42 GMT

TOKYO -- Wage growth in Japan slowed slightly in 2017 to 2.1%, 0.02 percentage point lower than in 2016, a survey compiled Friday by The Nikkei showed.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's megabanks to cut 2018 hiring class by 25%

JHRS — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 04:32:35 GMT

TOKYO -- Just over 3,300 new college graduates are expected to start working at Japan's three megabanks next April, a roughly 25% decline from the current fiscal year, as financial institutions rethink their hiring priorities in a difficult business environment largely precipitated by negative interest rates.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japanese recruiter bridging the culture gap

JHRS — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 08:17:28 GMT

Neo Career's strategy is to match employers with candidates as well as provide various sources of help to both parties, such as customer service training and instruction on the visa application process.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

More businesses deploying disabled workers in key positions

JHRS — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 04:39:52 GMT

TOKYO — More Japanese companies are active about deploying intellectually disabled workers in key positions as a way of promoting their business diversity.

Source: https://www.japantoday.com/

Wages and prices on the way up in Japan

JHRS — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 04:45:59 GMT

TOKYO -- A serious lack of labor is pushing up wages in various industries in Japan. In turn, consumers are about to begin paying more for goods and services.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan’s unemployment rate falls to 22-year low of 2.8% in February

JHRS — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 04:44:02 GMT

Japan’s unemployment rate fell to 2.8 percent in February, the lowest in more than 22 years, offering a positive sign for the country’s economy, government data showed Friday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s foreign residents offer up insights in unprecedented survey on discrimination

JHRS — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 04:42:20 GMT

Rent application denials, Japanese-only recruitment and racist taunts are among the most rampant forms of discrimination faced by foreign residents in Japan, according to the results of the country’s first nationwide survey on the issue, released Friday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan looks to reward 'good' employers of foreign trainees

JHRS — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 14:10:45 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese labor ministry will lengthen the internship period for foreign technical trainees from three years to five at employers with good track records, seeking to improve a program marred by poor working conditions.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

84% of Japan’s top companies rethinking their working hours

JHRS — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 14:06:25 GMT

Seventy-two of 86 major Japanese companies are changing or re-examining their working hours, a survey on work-style reforms revealed Friday. The survey by Jiji Press found that tackling the issue is a pressing challenge for corporate Japan. The rethink was spurred by recent revelations that many firms force employees to work illegally long hours.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Holiday loophole allows employers to circumvent overtime limits

JHRS — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 14:12:38 GMT

Despite an agreement reached by the government, businesses and a labor union that caps annual overtime at 720 hours, there apparently is a loophole that allows up to 960 hours of overtime if employees work on holidays.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Part-time wages surging in Japan amid worker shortages

JHRS — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 14:29:22 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's part-time wages are on the rise, with the February hourly average breaking the 1,000 yen ($8.94) mark, as companies sweeten offers to recruit restaurant workers and administrative staff in a tight labor market.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Corporate Japan test drives internships in race for talent

JHRS — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 14:25:11 GMT

TOKYO -- Employers in Japan are stepping up recruitment via internships to secure young university-trained prospects as competition in the domestic labor market intensifies.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Subsidized child care slightly raises women's employment in Japan

JHRS — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 06:26:56 GMT

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began a campaign called "womenomics" in 2013 in a bid to empower women and boost the economy by increasing female participation in the labor force. Womenomics has been an integral part of Abe's policy package, dubbed Abenomics, and one of its three main goals is to push up the birthrate to 1.8 by providing 500,000 additional child care slots from 2016 to 2018.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan’s college graduates have rare luxury of too many jobs available

JHRS — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 04:22:29 GMT

Graduate recruitment in Japan looks a bit like a scene from the movie The Matrix. Hordes of students dressed in identical black suits and white shirts make the rounds of seminars, tests and interviews. Even as jobs outnumber applicants, these “Agent Smiths” still fight it out for coveted positions at big-name companies, while leaving smaller employers out in the cold.

Source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/

Push for foreign students to stay on to work in Japan

JHRS — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 04:14:42 GMT

Japan is hiring foreign talent and it is now a top priority that international students attending Japanese universities stay on in the country, with the government offering new incentives such as subsidised company internships, help with finding jobs on graduation, stepped-up Japanese language courses and more streamlined processes for work visas after graduation.

Source: http://www.universityworldnews.com/

Japan raise for part-time work shows wage pressure

JHRS — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 04:25:49 GMT

TOKYO -- A labor shortage is helping Japan's temporary and part-time workers win greater pay increases than its full-timers, a reversal that adds to signs of gains by lower-wage workers globally.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/

‘Premium Friday’ campaign draws little attention in Tokyo

JHRS — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 05:36:35 GMT

Only 3.7 percent of Tokyo area employees left work early last month to mark the launch of the “Premium Friday” quit work early campaign on Feb. 24, an online survey says.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Fewer workers, higher wages: Japan Inc feels demographic pinch

JHRS — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 05:40:02 GMT

Unable to hire enough employees to staff its nurseries at a time of strong demand, JP-Holdings Inc is paying more overtime and bringing in part-time workers to fill shifts. That's eating into its bottom line - a trend seen across Japan's labor intensive industries, from delivery companies to restaurants and even the 400,000-employee strong postal system.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/

Forcing workers to relocate slowly growing less common at Japanese firms

JHRS — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 15:33:09 GMT

With the rise in female employees and the graying of society, more companies are allowing staff to reject relocations without risking promotions as Japan’s work environment slowly grows more family-friendly.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan eyes unemployment insurance for multiple-job holders

JHRS — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 15:30:17 GMT

TOKYO -- The growing ranks of Japanese working two or more jobs may soon enjoy a firmer safety net, as the labor ministry aims to offer unemployment benefits to those working a combined 20 hours a week at multiple companies.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

More workers able to decline relocations without risking promotion

JHRS — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 05:02:37 GMT

TOKYO — With a rise in female employees and the graying of society, more Japanese companies are allowing staff to reject relocations without risking promotions in a shift to a more family-friendly working environment.

Source: https://www.japantoday.com/

Japan’s ‘Undercover Boss’ reinforces stereotypes at work

JHRS — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 05:00:31 GMT

The government proposal to limit overtime for salaried workers is supposed to reduce the incidence of karōshi (death from overwork), which often takes the form of suicide, and yet the authorities seems squeamish about making demands on employers.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Corporate Japan reluctant to reward key employees

JHRS — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 05:04:10 GMT

TOKYO -- Stuck in an outdated seniority-based evaluation system, Japanese companies are reluctant to identify key performers and reward them monetarily. There is a disparity with other Asian economies in this regard and it is expanding.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Trainee program, small firms drive rise in Japan’s foreign worker numbers

JHRS — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 05:25:02 GMT

The official number of foreign workers in Japan has surpassed 1 million for the first time, thanks in part to aggressive employment by regional companies and small businesses to cope with the labor shortage.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Labor Cash Earnings Rise For Third Month

JHRS — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 05:28:31 GMT

Total Labor cash earnings in Japan increased for the third straight month in December, but at a slower-than-expected pace, preliminary report from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare showed Monday.

Source:http://www.rttnews.com/

Firms ramp up efforts to tackle Japan’s overtime culture

JHRS — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 04:29:17 GMT

An increasing number of major Japanese companies are strengthening their efforts to reduce overtime work on a voluntary basis, in a break with the culture of long hours at workplaces.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Panasonic Urges Japan Employees Not to Work Past 8 pm

JHRS — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 04:27:09 GMT

Tokyo: Electronics giant Panasonic has urged its employees to leave office by 8 p.m., during a time when Japan is reviewing its long working hours following the 2015 suicide by a young woman who had put in more than 100 hours of overtime per month.

Source: http://www.news18.com/

Japan job availability hits 25-year high

JHRS — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 04:31:19 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said on Tuesday that the country's effective ratio of job openings to job seekers has hit its highest level since 1991. The unemployment rate also fell to a 22-year low, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's Abe treads carefully on minimum rest for workers

JHRS — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 04:24:34 GMT

The Japanese government will consider providing financial aid to help businesses adopt minimum rest periods for employees, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told lawmakers Monday, even as he avoided committing to making the policy mandatory.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's foreign workers topped 1m in 2016

JHRS — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 06:34:06 GMT

TOKYO -- The number of foreigners employed in Japan rose above 1 million for the first time last year, growing for the fourth year in a row as the government tries to alleviate labor shortages and secure fresh talent.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan to step up paternity leave push

JHRS — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 06:28:45 GMT

TOKYO -- Employers in Japan will soon be asked to encourage individual workers to take parental leave, a step targeting mainly fathers.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan may widen service jobs for foreigners in special zones

JHRS — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 04:23:59 GMT

TOKYO -- Foreigners may find more service industry work in Japan's special economic zones, as the government looks to use the areas' looser regulations to remedy labor shortages and attract more tourists.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan employers cater to those happy with no promotions

JHRS — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 04:26:07 GMT

TOKYO -- As Japan copes with a shrinking labor force, the retail and restaurant industries are trying to accommodate employees who put family ahead of career advancement.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan eyes monthly overtime cap at 60-80 hours

JHRS — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 04:22:44 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government will consider a legal limit on monthly overtime, with penalties for rule breakers -- a step toward curbing excessive work hours that could force both labor and management to rethink their jobs.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan Inc. moving toward 4-day work week

JHRS — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 04:20:30 GMT

TOKYO -- Three days off per week are increasingly common in Japan's workplaces as employers seek to improve the work-life balance in line with the government's push for labor reform.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan government mulls stopping employees from fatal overworking

JHRS — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 04:25:00 GMT

Japan's government has announced measures to prevent employees from overworking in an attempt to stop people literally working themselves to death, a report says.

Source: http://www.presstv.ir/

Major companies in Japan moving away from spousal allowances: Mainichi survey

JHRS — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 04:30:36 GMT

Twelve out of 124 major companies in a recent Mainichi Shimbun survey say they will stop paying allowances for employees with spouses, while another 73 (59 percent) say they have abolished or do not offer such stipends in the first place -- highlighting a trend to eliminate such benefits.

Source: http://mainichi.jp/

Japan's Rethinking Its Culture of Long Work Hours

JHRS — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 04:28:40 GMT

The government and business groups will launch a “Premium Friday” campaign in February to encourage companies to let workers leave early on the last Friday of every month to go out and have fun. Some companies are taking their own steps to reduce hours and create a more flexible working environment.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/

Curbing overwork first on corporate Japan's to-do list for employees

JHRS — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 04:24:56 GMT

TOKYO -- Combating excessive hours is the top priority for Japanese business as efforts to overhaul working life advance, though employees are most concerned about compensation, according to a pair of Nikkei surveys.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

RIKEN to offer 40% of researchers long-term employment

JHRS — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 04:34:09 GMT

RIKEN, one of the nation’s largest research institutes, has decided to increase its percentage of researchers with long-term employment to 40 percent in the future, according to sources.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

This Japanese Company Is Replacing Its Staff With Artificial Intelligence

JHRS — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 04:31:48 GMT

The year of AI has well and truly begun, it seems. An insurance company in Japan announced that it will lay off more than 30 employees and replace them with an artificial intelligence system.

Source: http://fortune.com/

Japan seeks to attract workers, tourists to quake-hit region

JHRS — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 03:02:19 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan aims to attract more workers and tourists to the northeastern region of Tohoku, which is still trying to rebuild its economy from a devastating earthquake and tsunami nearly six years ago.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Premium Friday campaign seeks to curb Japan’s long work hours

JHRS — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 02:59:57 GMT

The country that coined the word karoshi (death by overwork) wants companies to let workers finish early on the last Friday of every month so that they can go out and have fun.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Overwork deaths put spotlight on Japan’s ‘black companies’

JHRS — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 03:20:36 GMT

The Labor Standards Law states that employees must work no more than eight hours a day and that violators face up to ¥300,000 in fines or up to six months in prison.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan moves to eliminate pay gap between regular, contractual employees

JHRS — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 03:24:22 GMT

TOKYO: An influential Japanese government panel on Tuesday laid out a raft of proposed changes to the labour law that would eliminate the pay gap between regular and contract employees with the same skills and experience.

Source: http://dailytimes.com.pk/

Japan drafts equal-pay guidelines

JHRS — Wed, 21 Dec 2016 03:18:41 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government has made its first attempt to define what constitutes unreasonable pay gaps between contingent and full-fledged workers, nudging employers to look at merit when determining compensation.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Nonregular workers deserve equivalent bonuses and benefits, too: work reform guideline draft

JHRS — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 05:04:29 GMT

Nonregular workers should be given bonuses equivalent to what regular employees doing comparable jobs receive, according to a draft guideline compiled as part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s drive to establish equal pay for equal work.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Firms let entrepreneurially minded staff work side jobs

JHRS — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 03:37:30 GMT

TOKYO — As the Japanese government pushes flexible working arrangements under its labor market reforms, an increasing number of Japanese companies are letting employees take on second jobs.

Source: https://www.japantoday.com/

Single mothers face hurdles to regular jobs

JHRS — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 04:59:50 GMT

An increasing number of households led by single mothers are experiencing economic hardship, as the number of fatherless families is on the rise because of an increase in divorces. The average annual income of such households is ¥2.23 million.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Fewest jobless since 1995; job ratio at 1.4

JHRS — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 05:13:19 GMT

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The number of jobless people in Japan fell to the lowest level in more than 20 years in October, according to workforce data released by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry on Tuesday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan to flesh out equal-pay rules for 'irregular' workers

JHRS — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 05:15:27 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government will set specific guidelines to ensure that part-timers and temps receive the same base pay as regular employees for the same work, aiming to get related legislation passed as early as next year.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Numbers of Japanese Elders in Workforce Soar

JHRS — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 05:20:21 GMT

Despite Japan’s reputation for economic sluggishness, Tokyo is flooded with help-wanted signs. The unemployment rate has fallen to 3%, and on Tuesday the government said the number of unemployed people fell below two million for the first time since 1995. It also said there are 140 jobs for every 100 people looking for work, the highest level in a quarter-century.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/

Japanese employers giving green light for telecommuting

JHRS — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 05:19:04 GMT

TOKYO -- Big-name Japanese companies are increasingly introducing flexible working conditions to attract and retain talent.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Employment insurance premiums to fall to record low

JHRS — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 05:10:37 GMT

The government will cut premiums for the nation’s employment insurance program to a record low of 0.6 percent for fiscal 2017-2019, down from 0.8 percent, sources said Monday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan wants higher wages — but that might not be enough for its economy

JHRS — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 04:01:04 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan has announced plans to request that Japan’s corporate leaders increase salaries and wages at an upcoming meeting of government, business, and nonprofit leaders in preparation for the spring labor negotiation period, or shunto. That would be the fourth straight year that Mr. Abe has proposed higher wages to strengthen Japan’s beleaguered economy.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/

Wages rise, hours fall for part-time workers

JHRS — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 03:56:20 GMT

Over the last 10 years, Japan’s 14 million part-time workers cut their working hours by more than 6 percent. They now work about 4.5 hours a day. That’s a blow to a country that’s struggling with a declining population, and to a government seeking to increase people’s take-home pay and to promote greater workforce participation by women.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Overwork sanctioned by both firms and unions, with dim prospects for state intervention: expert

JHRS — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 03:59:32 GMT

When the suicide of a female worker at ad giant Dentsu Inc. was recognized as karoshi, or death from overwork, many blamed a corporate culture that glorifies the “warrior” workers who sacrifice themselves for the good of the firm.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Record foreign student numbers find jobs on graduating

JHRS — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 04:01:41 GMT

The number of students, at 15,657, was more than double the 5,878 seen in 2005 and is the result of a government effort to lure skilled professionals, especially in the information technology sector, to boost the global competitiveness of Japanese firms.

Source: http://www.universityworldnews.com/

Half of Japan’s firms are rethinking work hours with a view to paring overtime: poll

JHRS — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 04:10:04 GMT

Just over half of Japanese firms are reviewing rules on working hours with many looking to cut down on overtime, a Reuters poll shows, in a sign that the government has gained traction in its campaign for more employee-friendly labor practices.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan looks to jolt consumption by letting workers leave early

JHRS — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 04:06:10 GMT

TOKYO — Hoping to jolt Japan’s limp consumer spending, policymakers and business leaders are considering plans to let workers leave by 3 p.m. on the last Friday of each month to encourage them to shop, dine out and generally spend more.

Source: https://www.japantoday.com/

Half of Japan firms reviewing work hours, with cuts to overtime in focus: Reuters poll

JHRS — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 03:34:38 GMT

Source: http://www.reuters.com/

Japan to help foreign students find work in the country

JHRS — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 03:37:10 GMT

In its Japan Revitalization Strategy, formulated in June, the government set a goal of raising the employment rate of foreign students in Japan from around 30% at present to 50% by 2020.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japanese employment backed by corporate warriors unraveling

JHRS — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 03:40:06 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese labor model predicated on worker loyalty and lifetime employment appears to have reached its limits as the nation tries to eke out growth while grappling with a shrinking worker pool.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's wages rise higher than last year -- barely

JHRS — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 04:01:51 GMT

TOKYO--Japanese wages edged up on year in September, suggesting that workers are only seeing modest pay gains despite government efforts to convince companies to pay more.

Source:http://www.marketwatch.com/

Tokyo firm to offer places of employment with kids close at hand for working moms

JHRS — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 03:54:52 GMT

At Mama Square Stellar Town in a big shopping mall in Kita Ward in the city of Saitama, some 15 women wearing telephone headsets are hard at work. In an adjacent room, separated by a glass wall, their children play contentedly with nursery staff.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan quietly accepting foreign workers — just don’t call it immigration

JHRS — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 03:57:21 GMT

Send us your construction workers, your care givers, your store clerks — but for a limited time only.

That’s the message from Japan, where the number of foreign workers, though still relatively small, has nearly doubled over the past eight years, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party is considering policies to speed up arrivals.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Foreign workers leading growth of Japan Inc.

JHRS — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 05:19:03 GMT

TOKYO -- An increasing number of Japanese companies are hiring foreign employees who have the knowledge and experience to immediately generate results.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

First Pride Index Report honors LGBT-friendly firms in Japan

JHRS — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 05:13:58 GMT

Japanese employers most friendly toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workers were honored at the Pride Index Report awards ceremony, the first of its kind in the country.

Source: http://www.asahi.com/

31.9% of new graduates quit first job within three years

JHRS — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 05:24:42 GMT

A government annual survey has found that 31.9 percent of people who started work just after graduating from a university in March 2013 left their job within three years, the labor ministry said.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Tokyo-based employment matchmaker targets Southeast Asian students

JHRS — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 05:06:44 GMT

A Tokyo-based job-matching company is pairing students from Southeast Asian nations, including Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, with Japanese employers via an online service.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Analysis / Rise in foreign workers may impact quality

JHRS — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 03:58:33 GMT

In an effort to overcome a shortage of caregivers at nursing facilities by increasing the number of foreign workers, bills to revise the immigration control law and establish a new law regarding foreign technical trainees are expected to pass during the current Diet session.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Worker Suicide at Japan’s Largest Ad Agency Reflects Enduring Crisis

JHRS — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 03:50:24 GMT

TOKYO—Two deaths linked to long job hours at one of Japan’s largest companies have revived concerns over the country’s struggle to curb an excessive work culture.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/

Support for elderly job seekers to be expanded

JHRS — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 04:22:19 GMT

The government plans to expand public support for elderly job seekers by increasing the number of specialized consulting counters for them at Hello Work public job placement offices from the current 80 to about 200 nationwide by fiscal 2020.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan’s working moms struggle to keep careers

JHRS — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 04:16:10 GMT

Working mothers in Japan are jettisoning their careers and resorting to contract work amid laws that fail to support shorter hours long term. The child care and family care leave law obliges employers to reduce working hours to six a day in principle for those taking care of children under 3 years old and offer them an exemption from overtime work on request.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Working moms struggle to keep careers without reduced work hours

JHRS — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 04:27:15 GMT

TOKYO — Working mothers in Japan often change their jobs and turn into contract employees after they become ineligible for shortened working hours at their workplaces, as many of them have a hard time managing child-rearing and long hours of work at the same time.

Source: https://www.japantoday.com/

98% of companies already have action plan to promote women

JHRS — Sun, 09 Oct 2016 04:25:25 GMT

Six months have passed since a law to promote the active engagement of women in society took effect. About 98 percent of target companies have drawn up an action program to promote women’s careers and have already implemented measures based on those programs, but the remaining companies have yet to submit their plans as the law requires.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com/

Japan: one fifth of employees at risk of death from overwork – report

JHRS — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 04:24:32 GMT

More than 20% of workers clocked dangerous levels of overtime each month, according to a government survey. A fifth of the Japanese workforce faces the risk of death from overwork, according to a new government survey into the country’s notoriously strenuous working culture.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/

Diversity gaining ground at Japan Inc.'s top levels

JHRS — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 03:59:14 GMT

TOKYO -- The Japanese government's efforts to promote more-diverse corporate management seem to be paying off, a Nikkei Inc. survey shows, with female executives up 22.4% on the year to 235.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan Inc. paying more, but low wages for temporary staff underscore two-track jobs sector

JHRS — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 04:00:38 GMT

Average earnings in the private sector increased ¥54,000 in 2015 from the year before to ¥4,204,000, up for the third year in a row, the National Tax Agency said Wednesday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Inc. taking steps to get workers to sit less

JHRS — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 03:57:31 GMT

More and more Japanese companies are taking aim at sedentary working patterns, amid rising awareness of the health benefits of standing up and stretching.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese firms encourage workers to sit less

JHRS — Sun, 25 Sep 2016 03:38:23 GMT

TOKYO - Increasing numbers of Japanese companies are taking aim at sedentary work styles as awareness of the health benefits of standing up and stretching is on the rise.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/

Japan should eliminate forced overtime: labor minister

JHRS — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 03:40:47 GMT

Japanese employees should not have to work long hours against their will, Health and Labor Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki told The Nikkei in a recent interview, stressing a need to revise labor regulations.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan grows more open to foreign workers as population declines

JHRS — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 03:36:54 GMT

Masahiko Shibayama, a lawmaker in Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party who serves as a special adviser to the prime minister, said in an interview in Singapore last week that policies under consideration may result in a doubling of foreign workers in Japan.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s jobs-for-life system a reason for static wages

JHRS — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 03:34:09 GMT

Wages fell steadily during Japan’s long battle with deflation. Raising them has been a focus of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s growth program, which seeks to “reflate” the economy through a cycle of higher corporate profits, worker pay and consumer spending.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Seminar gives international students in Japan job-hunting tips

JHRS — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 03:55:57 GMT

OSAKA — There are many struggles facing international students in Japan. Many find communicating in Japanese fluently to be a challenge. For others the culture can be very alienating at times, with certain nuances not translating very well into other cultures.

Source: https://www.japantoday.com/

Tokyo governor orders city's workers to leave desks by 8pm in overtime crackdown

JHRS — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 04:09:33 GMT

The new governor of Tokyo has ordered municipal employees to leave work by 8pm and is setting up overtime prevention teams to usher anyone lingering over their desk out the door.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Japanese Employees Rarely Switch Jobs, Ask for Pay Raises

JHRS — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 03:58:09 GMT

Wages fell steadily during Japan’s long battle with deflation. Raising them has been a focus of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s growth program, which seeks to "reflate" the economy through a cycle of higher corporate profits, worker pay and consumer spending.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/

New panel looks to tighten overtime rules

JHRS — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 03:50:35 GMT

The government is considering strictly capping workers’ monthly overtime hours by reviewing the existing 36 agreement, or Saburoku kyotei, under which employers can virtually assign unlimited amounts of work to employees.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com/

Additional training sessions eyed for government staff who have changed jobs

JHRS — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 03:48:08 GMT

The National Personnel Authority plans to strengthen training for national public servants who joined the government after working elsewhere, such as in the private sector.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Spike in wage pressure to hit Japan where it hurts

JHRS — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 03:53:49 GMT

TOKYO -- A confluence of economic and policy forces is expected to boost part-time wages sharply in Japan this autumn, forcing employers to confront the prospect of paying at least 1,000 yen ($9.68) an hour for such help -- if they can find it.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

More jobs, less spending in July, Japan data says

JHRS — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 06:04:39 GMT

According to ministry statistics, July's seasonally adjusted jobless rate fell 0.1 point from the previous month to 3% -- its lowest point since May 1995. While the rate for men remained at 3.2%, that for women improved from 3% to 2.7%.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan's jobless rate hits 21-year low; household spending falls less than expected

JHRS — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 04:19:01 GMT

TOKYO —Japanese household spending fell less than expected in July and the jobless rate hit a two-decade low, offering some hope for policy makers battling to pull the world’s third-largest economy out of stagnation, data by the Internal Affairs Ministry showed on Tuesday.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Job placement office for people aged 50 or older opens in Kitakyushu

JHRS — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 04:14:43 GMT

The office named “Senior Hello Work Tobata” is the first public employment security office targeting the older generation in Japan, the authorities said. Statistics show the ratio of people seeking jobs who were at least 45 years old was 45.5 percent among job seekers across Japan as of May.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan puts its seniors to work

JHRS — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 04:22:06 GMT

TOKYO Japan is ahead of the curve in when it comes to aging. In 2015, nearly 27% of the population was 65 or older, making it one of the grayest countries in the world and heightening concerns about an increasingly strained labor force.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Abuses rampant in foreign trainee program, Japan labor ministry finds

JHRS — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 04:05:53 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan may be running short of workers, creating demand for help from abroad, but nearly 3,700 Japanese workplaces that took "technical intern trainees" from overseas in 2015 were in violation of the country's labor standards, an inspection by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare revealed this week.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japanese firms employing foreign trainees found violating labor laws in record numbers

JHRS — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 03:34:22 GMT

A record number of employers that accept trainees under Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program for foreign nationals violated labor laws in 2015, the labor ministry said Tuesday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan banks introducing telecommuting, reduced working hours

JHRS — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 03:36:12 GMT

More major Japanese banks are reviewing their working patterns and introducing such systems as telecommuting and shorter working hours to help carers and parents with young children get the time they need.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Yoshinoya's foreign staff learn to please Japanese

JHRS — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 03:49:50 GMT

TOKYO -- Japanese restaurant operators are trying out a new way to teach their foreign staff the do's and don'ts of serving Japanese customers with online training videos.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Woman at Work / Ministry website lists female employment data

JHRS — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 03:37:46 GMT

Data on various companies’ recruitment and promotion of women can now be seen on a government website, following the enforcement of the law to encourage women’s participation and advancement in the workplace.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com/

Employment subsidies to reward companies with rising productivity

JHRS — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 03:45:28 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's labor ministry will allocate more of its employment-related subsidies to businesses where productivity is on the rise. The ministry's new focus comes as it consolidates the number of these subsidies from 27 to 15.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Labour Ministry opens 87 elderly employment centres

JHRS — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 03:47:44 GMT

SENIOR CITIZENS will now find it easier to get jobs thanks to 87 newly opened branches of the Employment Service Centre for Elderly Workers across the nation.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/

Japan Inc. hiring grads via online interviews

JHRS — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 03:52:10 GMT

The association, a nonprofit organization launched in April in Tokyo, has developed a system especially for recruitment interviews that can replace the existing videophone and provide more security, in which employers and job seekers can access each other at a virtual interview room using one-time IDs.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese firms hiring graduates through online interviews

JHRS — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 02:09:14 GMT

TOKYO — Japanese businesses are looking to conduct their recruitment interviews online in a move that could benefit both the companies and job seekers.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan loses its shine for foreign workers

JHRS — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 04:52:23 GMT

TOKYO -- With wages across Asia rising, Japan is gradually losing its appeal as a destination for foreign workers. The number of foreign workers in Japan is on track to top 1 million by the end of this year, but this trend may not last, even if the country adopts a more welcoming immigration policy.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

60 seen as too young to retire in aging, worker-short Japan

JHRS — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 03:31:24 GMT

Hiroshi Suzuki had a fulfilling career in which he traveled the world as an engineer. Then, at age 65, he retired. That didn’t last long. For the past seven years Suzuki, 72, has been a nursing aide in the Tokyo area, and says he’s years away from true retirement. Economists say if Japan wants to alleviate its worsening labor shortage, it needs a whole lot more people like Suzuki, who is atypical by working into his 70s.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Nagoya firm among those tapping workers who need flex-time jobs

JHRS — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 03:27:14 GMT

More and more small- and medium-size companies are allowing full-time employees to work shorter hours so they can spend more time with their families. The move is likely to help housewives, regarded as an untapped labor supply, to play a part in resolving Japan’s labor shortage amid its falling birthrate and aging population.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to ease government staff rules on nursing-care leave

JHRS — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 03:33:16 GMT

Currently, full-time employees working for the national government can take leave to care for parents, spouses or children, whether they live under the same roof or not. But for grandparents, siblings or grandchildren, they can only do so if they live together.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese workplaces inching toward LGBT inclusion

JHRS — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 05:10:00 GMT

Employers in Japan are at long last being pushed toward embracing LGBT-friendly policies by businesses overseas, though changing corporate cultures could prove a tougher challenge.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Job opening-to-seeker ratio rewrites 24-year high

JHRS — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 05:04:45 GMT

The nation’s ratio of job openings to job seekers inched up to another 24-year high in May, while the nation’s unemployment rate stayed flat in the month, government data showed Friday.

Source: http://www.the-japan-news.com/

Japanese workers distrust their employers, survey shows

JHRS — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 05:08:07 GMT

Only 22 percent of Japanese workers have “a great deal of trust” in their employers, which is way below the average of eight countries surveyed, according to a new report by EY, the global accounting and consulting firm formerly known as Ernst & Young.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Toyota plans to expand work-at-home program in August

JHRS — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 05:10:00 GMT

NAGOYA — Toyota Motor Corp is planning to significantly expand its work-at-home program in August, aiming to support employees rearing children or taking care of elderly family members, company sources say.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Google, ANA top workplace list for millennials; work-life balance also important: survey

JHRS — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 05:15:20 GMT

Global internet giant Google, along with local firms All Nippon Airways and Toyota Motor Corp., have emerged as the ideal workplaces for Japanese millennial talent, according to a new survey that has spotlighted the nation’s shifting work culture.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Govt workers to get yukatsu flextime this summer

JHRS — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 03:22:33 GMT

The government will encourage central government employees to go home early under a morning-oriented work program that will be carried out for the second straight year this summer.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Job interview season begins for univ. students

JHRS — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 03:19:39 GMT

Companies started employment interviews on Wednesday with university students due to graduate in spring 2017.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan Inc. giving workers disability training

JHRS — Tue, 31 May 2016 04:32:20 GMT

A growing number of companies are requiring their employees to learn how to interact with the elderly and people with disabilities. In many cases, the skill set is being added to staff training programs.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s job availability hits record high but unemployment rate remains flat

JHRS — Tue, 31 May 2016 04:27:51 GMT

The nation’s labor market remained tight in April as job availability rose to the highest level in over 24 years and the unemployment rate remained flat at 3.2 percent, government data showed Tuesday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan – Ratio of jobseekers to jobs highest in 24 years, jobless rate steady in April

JHRS — Tue, 31 May 2016 03:17:13 GMT

Source: http://www2.staffingindustry.com/

The ratio of jobseekers to jobs in Japan rose to 1.34 in April, its highest rate since 1991, while the jobless rate in April remained at 3.2%, unchanged from the previous month, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. - See more at: http://www2.staffingindustry.com/row/Editorial/Daily-News/Japan-Ratio-of-jobseekers-to-jobs-highest-in-24-years-jobless-rate-steady-in-April-38085#sthash.uTISgzOj.dpuf

Record 97% of university graduates land jobs

JHRS — Fri, 20 May 2016 03:16:04 GMT

A record-high 97.3 percent of university graduates in Japan were employed as of the beginning of the fiscal year on April 1, according to government data released Friday, reflecting companies’ increasing appetite for recruitment.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan sketches out action plan to address wage disparity and low pay for care workers

JHRS — Wed, 18 May 2016 03:14:31 GMT

The government adopted Wednesday a draft blueprint to alleviate pressures from an aging society, pledging to narrow the wage disparity between regular and nonregular workers and to pay staff better at nurseries for children and day care centers for the elderly.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Regional firms luring mid-career workers from big cities

JHRS — Wed, 11 May 2016 04:01:30 GMT

In a bid to grow their businesses and address human resource shortages, small and midsize companies in regional centers are increasingly trying to poach managers and senior staff from big firms in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Mental illnesses rise among care workers for elderly

JHRS — Sun, 08 May 2016 06:10:25 GMT

TOKYO — Depression and other mental illnesses are on the rise among nursing care workers for elderly people in Japan, apparently reflecting difficult working conditions amid chronic staff shortages in the industry.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan looks to pay employers to set shorter workdays

JHRS — Wed, 04 May 2016 06:06:10 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan's labor ministry is proposing a new subsidy for companies that set a minimum interval between the time employees leave work and when they return the following morning.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Top companies move to hire more foreign employees

JHRS — Sun, 01 May 2016 08:33:49 GMT

Japan’s top companies are increasingly moving to give foreign people permanent contracts, judging that the benefits of diversification are well worth the challenges.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan – Wages for part-time workers rising

JHRS — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 08:49:56 GMT

Wages for part-time workers in Japan are rising with the average hourly wages offered to part-time job applicants in Japan’s three major metropolitan areas increased 1.8% in March from a year earlier, for the 33rd consecutive monthly gain, according to Japanese jobs site Recruit Jobs.

Source: http://www2.staffingindustry.com/

Japan's job availability best in 24 yrs, jobless rate falls in March

JHRS — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 08:36:12 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's job availability reached the best level in over 24 years and the unemployment rate fell for the first time in two months in March, government data showed Thursday, indicating that the country's labor market remains tight.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan eyes more foreign workers in stealthy challenge to immigration taboo

JHRS — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 08:41:16 GMT

Desperately seeking an antidote to a rapidly aging population, Japanese policymakers are exploring ways to bring in more foreign workers without calling it an “immigration policy.”

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Mixed job outlook for 2017 graduates

JHRS — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 04:02:26 GMT

As this year’s crop of newly hired corporate employees settle into their jobs, more than 70 percent of companies looking forward to hiring for spring 2017 say they plan to employ a similar or greater number of new graduates that year, according to a survey of 100 major Japanese companies conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and NTV.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Caring for seniors a drain on Japan’s workers, survey finds

JHRS — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 03:58:33 GMT

A survey by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) has found that 27.9 percent of workers aged 40 or older who had to care for elderly family members said the burden made them think of quitting their job. Only 1.6 percent actually did so.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's 'Nonregular' Workers in Focus

JHRS — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 04:01:29 GMT

The struggles of temporary workers have gotten the attention of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who says reforming the way Japan works will be his government's biggest challenge in the next three years.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/

Death by overwork on rise among Japan's vulnerable workers

JHRS — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 03:45:49 GMT

Japan is witnessing a record number of compensation claims related to death from overwork, or “karoshi”, a phenomenon previously associated with the long-suffering “salary man” that is increasingly afflicting young and female employees.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Job-hunting students may be in for a shock when they arrive at their new company

JHRS — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 04:04:58 GMT

It’s spring, and the attention of journalists in Japan turns to new university graduates who will soon become productive members of society. In recent years, the recruitment dance has merited closer scrutiny. Even as the labor situation has become a seller’s market, issues persist with regard to employee status and workloads.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to have record 1 million foreign workers this year

JHRS — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 03:48:02 GMT

The number of foreign nationals employed in Japan is expected to top 1 million for the first time this year as the nation grows more reliant on overseas workers to meet labor demands, government sources said Saturday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Diversity management key for Japan with dwindling working population

JHRS — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 03:14:07 GMT

TOKYO — Long accustomed to hiring mainly Japanese staff, Japanese firms may need to start diversifying their workforces to respond to a declining working population and to accommodate the needs of clients amid rapid globalization.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan seeks alternatives to its pay system

JHRS — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 03:11:49 GMT

It's a simple task, if you're trying to spot the highest paid employee in a Japanese office. Just look for the oldest staff member. Traditionally, the longer you've been at a company, the more money you earn.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/

Japanese Employers Pull Back on Wage Increases

JHRS — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 03:46:48 GMT

TOKYO—Japanese companies are giving unionized employees smaller pay increases starting from April in a setback for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has directly pressured firms to raise wages in a bid to lift flagging growth.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/

Enterprises marshal forces to give ‘crowdsourcing’ workers a leg up

JHRS — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 03:51:56 GMT

New enterprises and programs for helping “crowdsourcing” entrepreneurs improve their skills and income are growing popular.

Crowdsourcing is a way to obtain and provide services from masses of people who are working jointly and usually online. It is an attractive option for people who want to work at home or when it suits them, such as housewives with children.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Cafes run by visually, hearing impaired set models for employment

JHRS — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 03:47:59 GMT

TOKYO — Walking into “Sign with Me,” a soup cafe in Tokyo, customers are greeted not by the typical Japanese “irasshaimase” shouts of welcome but sign language and gestures from courteous staff members.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan Inc. wants workers to take more time off

JHRS — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 03:44:01 GMT

TOKYO -- Business lobby Keidanren will set a target to have workers in Japan use three additional days of paid leave a year as a way of promoting domestic tourism.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan’s major business lobby to urge workers to take more holidays

JHRS — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 03:41:33 GMT

Japan’s most influential business lobby pledged Friday to urge its member firms to have employees take more holidays in a bid to boost the tourism industry.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's job availability strongest in over 24 years in Jan.

JHRS — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 05:25:26 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's job availability improved to 1.28 in January, hitting its strongest level in more than 24 years, as the labor market remains tight in the wholesale, retail and other industries, the government said Tuesday.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Barclays Said to Boost Severance Offer for Fired Tokyo Staff

JHRS — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 05:38:38 GMT

Barclays Plc boosted severance packages for equities employees dismissed in Tokyo last month, adding the equivalent of three months of pay to some of the 80 workers affected who had rebuffed initial offers, people familiar with the matter said.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/

Abe vows to correct wage differences between regular, nonregular employees

JHRS — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 05:33:33 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday stressed his resolve to correct the wage gaps between regular and nonregular employees. Nonregular workers include part-timers, contract workers and temp staff dispatched by personnel agencies.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Hurdles for ‘equal pay’ system

JHRS — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 05:28:51 GMT

Discussions moved into full gear Tuesday to introduce an “equal pay for equal work” system. The Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) is believed to be among those who will cooperate with the government, which intends to introduce the system as early as possible. To implement the system, however, drastic reviews of conventional employment systems are necessary, and there are many problems to be solved.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Housewives seek training programs to find jobs again

JHRS — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 05:02:52 GMT

Japanese women who have spent years away from the office to bring up their children are enrolling in specialized job-training programs, hoping these will help them find opportunities to rejoin the workforce.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan moving to address wage gaps

JHRS — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 05:11:25 GMT

The Japanese government will draw up guidelines requiring employers pay the same wages for workers doing the same work, an initiative designed to address inequalities between full-time and temporary workers.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan – Number of full-time workers grows for the first time in 8 years

JHRS — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 05:05:02 GMT

The number of permanent employees in Japan grew for the first time in eight years in 2015. Full-time employees grew by 260,000 to 33.04 million in 2015, while the total number of workers including part-time and temporary workers, grew by 440,000 to 52.84 million.

Source: http://www.staffingindustry.com/

Full-time workers on the rise as businesses seek talent

JHRS — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 03:54:17 GMT

TOKYO -- The number of permanent employees in Japan grew for the first time in eight years in 2015, signaling a change in companies' long-standing preference for part-timers, though expected gains in wages and consumption remain elusive.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Women starting to climb corporate ladders, but ascent is slow

JHRS — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 03:49:08 GMT

Women aged around 50 who started working soon after the equal employment opportunity law came into force in Japan in 1986 are now assuming executive positions in major companies.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

More women in late 20s changing jobs

JHRS — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 03:52:36 GMT

Women in their late 20s — the generation that experienced the “employment ice age” after the Lehman Brothers collapse — are increasingly seeking to change jobs over concerns about work-life balance after marriage and childbirth.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japanese students participate in job shadow program

JHRS — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 03:38:10 GMT

Two local junior high school students from Shincho Junior High School in Sagamihara City, job shadowed employees Jan. 14 to 15, from U.S. Army Garrison Japan.

Source: http://japan.stripes.com/

Reforming Japan’s labour market

JHRS — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 03:32:25 GMT

Japan’s labour market situation is improving. The unemployment rate of 3.1 per cent in October 2015 was the lowest for 20 years. And, although improvement has been slow, wage growth has been accelerating. But Japan’s labour market still faces several serious issues.

Source: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/

Tokyo to boost hiring to better prepare for ’20 Olympics: NHK

JHRS — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 03:48:08 GMT

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has reportedly decided to increase the number of new hires in fiscal 2016 to better prepare for the Olympic Games in the capital in 2020.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Foreign working population in Japan jumps to record high

JHRS — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 03:37:22 GMT

The number of foreign workers in Japan totaled 907,896 at the end of October, the most since the government started requiring employers to submit reports on their non-Japanese employees in 2007, the labor ministry said.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's job availability best in 24 yrs in December

JHRS — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 03:43:01 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's job availability was at its best level in 24 years in December, the government data showed Friday, as companies sought more workers in an increasingly tight labor market.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Ministry subsidies to aid elderly employment

JHRS — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 04:11:56 GMT

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will launch a number of new projects beginning next fiscal year aimed at helping elderly people to work, as part of efforts to realize Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s centerpiece policy of a society in which all 100 million-plus citizens are dynamically engaged.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

BOJ officials ‘disappointed’ with unambitious salary talks

JHRS — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 04:09:59 GMT

Bank of Japan officials are increasingly expressing disappointment at subdued annual wage talks, according to people familiar with the discussions, making next week’s monetary-policy decision a closer call.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Abe to call for training of 250,000 care workers

JHRS — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 03:45:22 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in his annual policy speech will call for training 250,000 workers in nursing care-related fields to reach the government’s goal of reducing to zero the number of people who leave their jobs to provide nursing care for family members, it was learned Tuesday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Japan’s labor ministry to investigate why 2 million workers are on wrong pension program

JHRS — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 04:30:46 GMT

Labor minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki said Wednesday his ministry will investigate why around 2 million workers are not members of the employees’ pension program despite being eligible.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Companies in Japan expanding support, events for LGBT people

JHRS — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 04:27:08 GMT

Companies in Japan are strengthening their support for minorities known as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, amid growing social understanding for members of that community.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

2 mil. employees not ‘nenkin’ enrolled

JHRS — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 04:14:42 GMT

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will launch a probe to identify companies neglecting their obligation to have employees join the appropriate public pension scheme, officials have said.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan's trainee program faces tighter oversight

JHRS — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 04:23:50 GMT

TOKYO -- Japan will strengthen oversight of its foreign trainee program that critics say serves as a hotbed for forced labor and other human rights violations.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Low wages at the heart of foreign labor shortage woes

JHRS — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 03:14:31 GMT

There has been a lot of discussion recently about allowing more foreign workers into Japan to make up for severe labor shortages in some fields. As of the end of 2014, the labor ministry estimated there were 790,000 foreign nationals working in Japan legally, which is more than the number of national civil servants (640,000).

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese boys most interested in jobs as drivers, survey finds, citing recent shinkansen launches

JHRS — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:10:40 GMT

Drivers of trains, buses or cars came in fourth place in the list of what Japanese boys want to be when they grow up, the highest rank since the annual survey by Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. started in 1989, according to the latest edition released on Thursday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to reinforce cybersecurity hiring, training and countermeasures ahead of 2020 Olympics

JHRS — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 03:12:14 GMT

The government is poised to greatly strengthen its measures against cyberterrorism in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's job availability hits best level in nearly 24 years in November

JHRS — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 04:30:44 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's job availability improved to its best level in nearly 24 years in November as companies sought more workers in the country's tight labor market, government data showed Friday.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Record 790,000 foreigners work in Japan, many tackling risky jobs

JHRS — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 04:32:26 GMT

Japan is increasingly depending on foreign workers to meet a shortfall in the domestic working population, but many of the jobs are menial or ones that nobody else wants.

Source: http://ajw.asahi.com

Senior workers increasingly taking special leave to look after grandchildren

JHRS — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 04:14:07 GMT

Amid an increase in two-income households in Japan, the rate of men who take paternity leave is extremely low, and the availability of day care services remains insufficient. So who looks is looking after the children? The answer is often grandparents.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Over 70% of high school students graduating next spring secure jobs

JHRS — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 03:39:14 GMT

TOKYO — More than 70% of high school students who wish to work after graduation next spring had secured a job as of Oct 31, showing an improvement for the sixth consecutive year, the education ministry says.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Foreign students and workers back life in Japan, but say work for local firms ‘unappealing’

JHRS — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 03:40:48 GMT

Japan is overwhelmingly an appealing place to live, but the experience of working for Japanese companies is not as alluring, according to a new survey of foreign students and workers.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Without safety net, foreign temp workers live on the edge

JHRS — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 03:42:10 GMT

SAITAMA – Among foreign migrant workers who travel to Japan in quest of a better life, a common narrative stands out — minimal wages, occupational instability, language barriers and an itinerant lifestyle. This is what many factory employees from everywhere from Peru to the Philippines learn to expect.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Honda plans to lift retirement age in Japan

JHRS — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 03:44:19 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co plans to raise the retirement age for employees at its Japan operations to 65 years from the current 60 years in a bid to retain workers for longer as the labour force shrinks.

Source: http://www.employmentlawtoday.com/

Japan’s foreign temp workers need ways to blow off steam

JHRS — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 02:58:58 GMT

SAITAMA – Life is tough enough for migrant workers who travel to Japan for employment. So pity those who lack a support network to help them through health care matters, workplace stress and general blowing off steam.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Workers in Japan estimated to decrease 12% by 2030 as society grays

JHRS — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 03:16:21 GMT

The number of workers in Japan will fall by 7.9 million, or 12.4 percent, to 55.61 million from 2014 to 2030 if the graying country fails to attain economic growth and bring more women and the elderly into the workforce, a government estimate has shown.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Saying Sayonara to Long Hours at the Office

JHRS — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 03:15:05 GMT

The Japanese government is encouraging the change, rewarding companies trying to create a more worker-friendly culture with subsidies. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration has vowed to raise the number of people who work at least one day a week from home to more than 10% of all workers by 2020 from about 4% now.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/

Job-hunting Japanese students report dirty dealing by potential employers

JHRS — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 03:12:49 GMT

More than 60 percent of universities in Japan received complaints from students this year about a practice known as owahara, in which companies coerce applicants into halting their job hunt elsewhere in exchange for an informal offer of employment, a private survey has found.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Job services to be allowed at local govts

JHRS — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 03:32:22 GMT

A Cabinet Office panel of experts has wrapped up a set of proposals to allow local governments to offer free job placement services independently.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Without tackling Japan’s labor mismatch, Abe’s GDP target is just a pipe dream

JHRS — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 03:29:46 GMT

In September, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that the government’s economic goal is to boost gross domestic product to ¥600 trillion in 2020. Most members of the business community have called this target impossible, since it would require an annual growth rate of 3 percent, and the last time Japan achieved that figure was in 1991.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Companies cannot be allowed to exploit student part-time workers

JHRS — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 03:27:34 GMT

Some students are being forced to overwork so much that it hinders their studies, and some companies do not pay them fully. The rampant exploitation of part-time works by businesses cannot be brushed aside.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002576156

Lack of Workers Hobbles Japan’s Growth

JHRS — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 03:22:22 GMT

From software engineers to waiters, a labor shortage caused by an aging workforce, education gaps and immigration curbs is stunting economic growth in Japan.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/

Govt workers wary of My Number cards as ID

JHRS — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 03:29:56 GMT

The government is proceeding with plans to have all national civil servants use their My Number cards as work identification badges.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

50% of temps see maternity harassment

JHRS — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 05:13:59 GMT

Among female workers who have conceived children, about 20 percent of regular employees and about 50 percent of dispatched workers said they have experienced maternity harassment at their workplaces, according to the first survey of its kind to be conducted by the labor ministry.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Welfare ministry proposes easing child care leave prerequisites

JHRS — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 05:12:28 GMT

Amid a surge in nonregular workers, the welfare ministry on Thursday proposed drastically easing the current rigid requirement for child care leave that prevents many mothers from returning to the workforce.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Amazon Japan staff form union to fight ‘unfair’ performance targets

JHRS — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 03:55:35 GMT

Amazon Japan KK employees have formed a labor union with a stated aim to abolish a “performance improvement plan” that they say effectively enables the company to easily fire its workers.

Source: http://ajw.asahi.com/

‘Womenomics’ makes small chips in Japan’s glass ceiling

JHRS — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 08:35:15 GMT

Two years after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made women’s advancement a top policy priority, statistics suggest Japan’s male-dominated workplaces have evolved slightly, but they also highlight the deep-seated societal forces keeping the gender gap alive.

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com

Samsung Electronics Japan to lay off 100 employees

JHRS — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 08:33:21 GMT

Samsung Electronics Japan will cut payroll by 25% this year, seeking to improve profitability in a maturing smartphone market by holding down fixed costs while launching new handsets.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan’s job availability jumps to highest level in 23 years

JHRS — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 08:31:27 GMT

Japan’s job availability continued to improve for the third straight month in September to hit its highest level in over 23 years, further indicating that companies need more workers, the government said Friday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Despite labor crunch, Japanese firms slow to accept disabled applicants

JHRS — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 08:36:44 GMT

Law graduate Yusuke Hatsuse says he thought his college degree and national sports success would make him an attractive recruit for Japan’s best-known employers. When none invited him for interviews, he applied for virtually every job he could find.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Job screenings being moved up to June

JHRS — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 03:35:46 GMT

The Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) plans to change its recruitment guidelines to move up the start of job screenings of university students expected to join the workforce in spring 2017. The plan calls for allowing companies to begin such activities centered around June of the students’ senior year, up from August.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

More Japanese firms adopting start-early, leave-early programs

JHRS — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 04:28:27 GMT

Japanese workers are increasingly being urged to move up their working hours as employers seek to improve efficiency, cut overtime pay and promote a healthier lifestyle for employees.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Weaker yen boosts local employment

JHRS — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 04:25:08 GMT

The recent boost in domestic production among some Japanese manufacturers has been mainly attributed to the weak yen, which has caused import prices of Japanese products produced overseas to rise and an increase in labor costs in emerging countries where Japanese companies have built production bases.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Big business steps up hiring of college grads

JHRS — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 03:34:11 GMT

Major Japanese companies have offered more jobs to university seniors this year than they hired this past spring, marking a fifth consecutive year of growth, a new Nikkei survey shows.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Ensure greater use of paid holidays by heightening work efficiency

JHRS — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 04:26:40 GMT

Let us work efficiently and take sufficient days off. To rectify the practice of working long hours and ensure a work-life balance, it is of key importance to boost the average percentage of paid days off taken per employee.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Telecommuting benefits chipping away at corporate barriers

JHRS — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 03:53:21 GMT

Software maker Infoteria Corp., based in Tokyo, expanded its telecommuting system in August during a record-breaking hot spell. The arrangement allows employees to work from home on days when the Meteorological Agency forecasts temperatures of 35 degrees or higher by 5 a.m.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Pay for workers in Japan up 0.5 percent in August

JHRS — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 04:17:10 GMT

The average monthly pay among workers in Japan in August rose 0.5 percent from a year earlier to ¥272,382 ($2,270), up for the second consecutive month, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said in a preliminary report on Monday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's job availability best in over 23 years in August

JHRS — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 04:19:39 GMT

Japan's job availability continued to improve in August to its highest level in more than 23 years, the government said Friday, reflecting companies' willingness to hire more employees against the backdrop of their robust earnings.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Companies working to boost women’s role in the workplace

JHRS — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 03:24:31 GMT

Japanese businesses are working on measures to support child care for employees and promote the role of women in the workplace, in line with a new law that requires them to compile related action programs.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Job offers at 22-year high for high school graduates

JHRS — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 04:12:03 GMT

The average ratio of job offers to seekers for high school students set to graduate in March 2016 hit the highest level in 22 years, according to the labor ministry.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Will revised worker dispatch law lead to stable employment, better jobs?

JHRS — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 03:10:13 GMT

The revised worker dispatch law, one of the main issues at the current Diet session, was enacted Friday by a majority vote supported by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its junior coalition partner Komeito and others. The revised law comes into force on Sept. 30.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Japan should extend skilled foreigners' residency to 8 years: advisers

JHRS — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 03:12:05 GMT

TOKYO -- As part of new economic policy recommendations, top advisers to the government will propose lengthening the residency period for qualified foreigners to a maximum of eight years to help attract talent to the country.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Bill easing regulations on temp workers passes key committee

JHRS — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 04:10:29 GMT

The ruling bloc bulldozed a contentious bill to revise the worker dispatch law through an Upper House committee Tuesday, clearing a critical hurdle for its enactment that will enable companies to use temporary workers for as long as they wish.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Revamp of Japan’s temp sector may create lifelong job seekers

JHRS — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 04:11:34 GMT

With the bill to overhaul regulations on the use of temporary workers poised to clear the Diet this week, thousands of temps dispatched from staffing agencies worry they may lose their jobs in three years after the change takes effect.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Will AI become a threat to future white-collar workers?

JHRS — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 04:08:27 GMT

Can a robot get into the University of Tokyo, Japan’s most prestigious university, by 2021? Some people may say “yes,” thinking that since robots can now beat professional chess players and shogi (Japanese chess) players, it shouldn’t be so difficult to realize this in the not-so-distant future. But it is not that simple.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Female empowerment law first step, but male-oriented work culture must change: experts

JHRS — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 04:04:51 GMT

The recent passage of a government-sponsored bill to promote women in the workplace is widely seen as a small step forward in a country that lags far behind other developed nations when it comes to gender equality.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Job offers-to-seekers ratio at 23-yr high

JHRS — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 03:22:24 GMT

The ratio of effective job openings to job seekers in Japan stood at 1.21 in July after seasonal adjustment, up 0.02 point from the previous month, and hitting the highest level since February 1992, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported Friday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan lawmakers approve law requiring businesses to set, share targets for hiring female execs

JHRS — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 03:20:20 GMT

Japanese lawmakers approved a law Friday requiring large employers to set and publicize targets for hiring or promoting women as managers.The law approved by a vote of 230-1 in the House of Councillors is intended to promote greater gender equality and counter labor shortages that are arising as Japan's population ages and declines.

Source: http://www.usnews.com/

Diet passes bill aimed at boosting women in the workplace

JHRS — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 03:18:10 GMT

The Diet passed a bill Friday aiming to promote the role of women in the workplace, along with greater female participation in the economy at a time when the country’s population is expected to shrink further.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Bill addressing women in workplace set to pass Diet; lacks uniform targets

JHRS — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 10:05:17 GMT

The Diet is expected to pass a bill as early as Friday to promote the role of women in the workplace, though the government has stopped short of setting uniform targets in the legislation.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

3,234 Sharp employees apply for voluntary retirement program

JHRS — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 10:08:03 GMT

Sharp, based in Osaka, announced in May plans to shed about 5,000 employees, or 10 percent of its global workforce. As part of the plan, the company invited staffers in Japan to apply for voluntary retirement between July 27 and Aug. 4. The applicants will quit Sharp on Sept. 30.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Fast Retailing to debut four-day workweeks for Uniqlo staff

JHRS — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 10:14:25 GMT

Fast Retailing Co. will introduce a new system in October to allow employees at its Uniqlo casual clothing stores to take three days off a week, as it aims to promote diverse work styles, company sources said Thursday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Almost 30% of young people don’t want to work for a company, survey finds

JHRS — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 04:56:00 GMT

In what might be termed an unstable and maybe even depressing time for young people looking at their future careers, a survey revealed Thursday that they maintain an unenthusiastic and rather cool attitude toward employment: almost 30 percent of young respondents answered that if possible, they would prefer not to work for a company.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Companies urged to take steps to protect workers against heatstroke

JHRS — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 04:57:37 GMT

As an increasing number of people are suffering from heatstroke at work amid the ongoing heat wave, the health ministry is calling on companies to take preventive measures to protect employees.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Late overtime increases among government workers despite early bird program

JHRS — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 02:24:55 GMT

More central government employees worked overtime on the evening of July 29 than about a month before, despite the country’s morning-oriented work program that started on July 1, the government said Friday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

New law to require stress checks for workers

JHRS — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 04:13:21 GMT

The government plans to introduce stress checks for its workers, as the number of staff on leave due to mental illness remains high, according to sources.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Employees sue moving firm Hikkoshisha over mandatory damage reimbursement

JHRS — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 04:20:01 GMT

A group of current and former workers at mover Hikkoshisha Co. filed a lawsuit Friday with the Nagoya District Court against the company, seeking some ¥70 million in compensation for lost wages used to reimburse for damage incurred during transit.

Govt to research karoshi at workplaces in detail

JHRS — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 04:51:39 GMT

The government is planning measures to cope with soaring cases of deaths from overwork, known as karoshi, as well as the first large-scale research to assess the current extent of the problem.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Companies in Japan aim to help improve work-life balance

JHRS — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 04:44:00 GMT

With the working population expected to decline, it has become urgent to create an environment where women can combine work with child-rearing. Companies are also trying to improve productivity, which is said to be lower than in the United States and Europe.

Source: http://english.astroawani.com/

Govt employees’ monthly pay to rise for 2nd year

JHRS — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 03:03:21 GMT

The National Personnel Authority is likely to recommend higher monthly salaries for national civil servants for the second straight year in its 2015 salary recommendations next month, according to sources.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Grants to boost regular workers to be extended

JHRS — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 03:01:38 GMT

The government will likely bolster a subsidy program for firms that promote nonpermanent workers to full-time regular positions by extending it into the foreseeable future, according to government sources.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan to target Asian students to work in IT sector

JHRS — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 02:59:07 GMT

The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry plans to launch a system next fiscal year that will help new Asian university graduates and others invited to Japan find employment in the nation to alleviate a shortage of human resources in information technology.

Source: http://news.asiaone.com/

OECD urges Japan to do more to support employment for women, improve job quality

JHRS — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 03:40:37 GMT

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has called on Japan to redouble efforts to help women secure jobs and improve the quality of jobs in the country.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan firms face hurdles as ‘service’ culture taken overseas

JHRS — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 03:46:29 GMT

It’s a Japanese style of customer service based on a strict manual and which is praised for its politeness and efficiency. But as Japanese companies increasingly branch out overseas, they are faced with the dilemma of staying true to this retail philosophy while adapting to local service habits.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Diet OK’s bill on patent rights for employers

JHRS — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 04:21:46 GMT

The bill clearly states that employees who invented products whose patents have been acquired by their employers are entitled to considerable amounts of compensation and economic benefits from the companies.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Average wage rises for 2nd consecutive month

JHRS — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 04:28:58 GMT

The average wage earned by workers in May rose 0.6 percent from a year before to ¥268,389, up for the second consecutive month, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said in a preliminary report Tuesday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan – Job availability hits new high

JHRS — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 04:26:31 GMT

Japan's job availability rose to its highest level in roughly 23 years, while the unemployment rate remained flat in May, indicating that labour market conditions continued to improve amid economic recovery, reports asia.nikkei.com.

Source: http://www.staffingindustry.com/

Japan will need 370,000 extra care workers a decade from now

JHRS — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 04:32:08 GMT

The welfare ministry is warning a national shortfall of around 377,000 care workers for the elderly is expected in fiscal 2025.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Bill should ensure better treatment of temporary employees at firms

JHRS — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 04:42:50 GMT

A bill to revise the Worker Dispatch Law, over which the ruling and opposition parties confronted each other, passed the House of Representatives on Friday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Temp workers dealt blow as dispatch bill clears Lower House

JHRS — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 04:48:56 GMT

Opposition lawmakers walked out in protest as the Lower House on Friday passed a contentious bill to revise the worker dispatch law, ending a requirement that companies upgrade their temporary workers to fully fledged employees after a period of three years.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Only 25% of female regular staff hope to be promoted

JHRS — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 04:44:47 GMT

Those who hope to be promoted accounted for 25.7 percent of female regular employee respondents and 13.5 percent of female nonregular workers, the Cabinet Office survey showed.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan Apr Labor Cash Earnings Revised Down

JHRS — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 03:24:13 GMT

Japan's total labor cash earnings increased at a slower-than initially expected rate in April after remaining unchanged in the previous month, a final report from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare showed Thursday.

Source: http://www.rttnews.com/

Unfairly dismissed workers may soon be able to claim financial compensation

JHRS — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 03:19:25 GMT

Unfairly dismissed workers may soon, and for the first time, be entitled to financial compensation, after Japan’s Regulatory Reform Council included the proposal among its 182 recommendations submitted to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Source: http://www.staffingindustry.com/

Compensation system for sacked workers eyed

JHRS — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 03:21:57 GMT

The government’s Regulatory Reform Council has called for discussions to begin this year among labor and management representatives and lawyers on a system that would provide financial settlements for unfairly dismissed workers.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan's workers shun vacation, pile up overtime

JHRS — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 02:51:59 GMT

Japan wants its workers to take more holidays and work fewer hours to cut down the number of people pushing themselves into an early grave.

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/

Japan April job availability up to 1.17, best in 23 years

JHRS — Fri, 29 May 2015 02:47:19 GMT

Japan’s job availability improved in April to its best level in around 23 years while the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in 18 years, with companies willing to hire more workers on the back of an economic recovery, the government said Friday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Government pledges to help foreign students find jobs in Japan

JHRS — Thu, 28 May 2015 02:49:29 GMT

The Cabinet Office will hold seminars to provide universities with information about corporate internships and employment support programs for students from overseas, it was announced Wednesday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Working to death in Japan: warning over no overtime law

JHRS — Wed, 27 May 2015 03:33:43 GMT

Japan’s push to take away overtime from high-paid workers has critics warning it will aggravate a problem synonymous with the country’s notoriously long working hours – karoshi, or death from overwork. Teruyuki Yamashita knows the risks all too well. The now 53-year-old worked day and night in a senior sales job, made countless overseas business trips and slept an average of just three hours a night.

Source: https://www.dailystar.com.lb/

Employees told they need to take more time off and work shorter hours in Japan

JHRS — Tue, 26 May 2015 03:25:50 GMT

The government has increased the number of public holidays and leave entitlements in recent years to 18.5 days, but data shows that last year staff used less than half of that allowance.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Move to exempt high-paid personnel from overtime pay raises concerns of social problem

JHRS — Mon, 25 May 2015 03:17:40 GMT

Japan's push to take away overtime from high-paid workers has critics warning it will aggravate a problem synonymous with the country's notoriously long working hours - karoshi, or death from overwork.

Source: http://www.scmp.com/

Japan's ‘Employment Ice Age’ Is Over for New Grads

JHRS — Thu, 21 May 2015 03:49:46 GMT

The April 1, 2015 employment figures are up 2.3 percentage points compared to one year earlier and mark the fourth straight year of improvement in Japan's employment rate for post-secondary graduates.

Source: https://globalvoicesonline.org/

Japan Ranked as Costliest Place in Asia Pacific to Send Employees

JHRS — Tue, 12 May 2015 03:14:45 GMT

Japan is the most expensive country in the Asia Pacific region for a company to send a worker abroad due to the cost of housing, education and pay, as well as a host of other factors, research shows.

Source: http://www.expatforum.com/

Japan Offers Highest Expatriate Packages in Asia

JHRS — Sat, 09 May 2015 03:14:33 GMT

Expatriates in Japan turned out to earn the highest expat pay and benefits packages in all of Asia, with expatriate manager getting a package of up to USD375,000, a survey conducted by ECA International showed.

Source: http://www.businessnewsasia.com/

Japan's jobs-to-job seekers ratio at 23-year high

JHRS — Sat, 02 May 2015 03:48:55 GMT

The average ratio of effective job openings to job seekers rose 0.14 point to 1.11 in fiscal 2014, hitting the highest level since fiscal 1991 - 23 years before - when the ratio stood at 1.34, the government announced on Friday.

Source: http://business.asiaone.com/

As Japan's population ages, robots seen as workforce solution

JHRS — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 03:56:54 GMT

A growing number of Japanese businesses are testing out robots as a possible solution to the country's shrinking workforce. They're appearing in stores, banks and soon even hotels.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com

Sony moves to allow young workers to study abroad

JHRS — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 03:59:15 GMT

As part of efforts to give its younger workers an incentive to acquire skills that will benefit their future careers at the company, Sony Corp. said Friday it will allow its junior employees to study abroad for two years.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Skirts Immigration Debate by Offering ‘Internships’ to Foreigners

JHRS — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 03:56:06 GMT

TOKYO—As its labor force shrinks, Japan is looking abroad to fill jobs like health-care aide, convenience-store manager and construction worker.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/

Subsidies eyed for companies promoting women’s employment

JHRS — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 03:39:58 GMT

The labor ministry is considering rewarding small and medium-sized companies with subsidies of up to ¥600,000 ($4,997) for achieving numerical and other targets for women’s participation in the workforce, sources said Thursday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Inc says sayonara to culture of long working hours

JHRS — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 03:46:47 GMT

Japan’s salarymen are saying sayonara to the country’s culture of overwork — with the backing of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Source: http://www.ft.com/

All together now as Japanese start careers

JHRS — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 03:27:16 GMT

With crisp new suits and fresh haircuts, thousands of Japanese 20-somethings started their first day on the job on Wednesday in an annual ritual that traces back to the country's fast-disappearing jobs-for-life work culture.

Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/

Legions of new recruits start first day on the job in Japan

JHRS — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 14:48:18 GMT

With crisp new suits and fresh haircuts, thousands of Japanese twenty-somethings started their first day on the job on Wednesday in an annual ritual that traces back to the country’s fast-disappearing jobs-for-life work culture.

Source: http://www.therakyatpost.com/

More career-track wives working away from families

JHRS — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 15:03:25 GMT

Tokiko Nakayama speaks to her 6- and 3-year-old sons via her computer at a company apartment for 20 to 30 minutes before going to work every morning.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's full-timers put in most overtime on record in 2014

JHRS — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 14:52:23 GMT

The average Japanese full-timer worked 173 hours of overtime last year, according to the Monthly Labor Survey compiled by the labor ministry. That is seven hours longer than in 2013 and 36 more than the tally two decades ago.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Japan Post Group to boost hiring in fiscal 2016

JHRS — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 04:44:40 GMT

Japan Post Group is likely to be Japan's biggest employer for fiscal 2016, with plans to hire about 6,500 new graduates to bolster its short-handed distribution business.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com

Japanese Companies Grant Biggest Pay Raises in Years

JHRS — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 04:41:45 GMT

Major Japanese manufacturers lined up Wednesday to give their employees bigger pay raises starting in April, a move that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes will rejuvenate his campaign to boost growth and defeat deflation.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/

Govt approves bill so firms can patent employees’ inventions

JHRS — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 03:16:58 GMT

The government adopted at a cabinet meeting Friday a bill to revise the patent law to allow companies to obtain patents on inventions by their employees. At present, the right to obtain patents belongs to inventors, not to the companies where they are employed.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japanese workers could soon be FORCED to take holidays

JHRS — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 03:13:37 GMT

In Japan working yourself to death is so common they even have a name for it - karoshi. Now the government is trying to cut the number of people who drop dead at their desks by making holidays compulsory.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Nomura, SMBC Nikko boost graduate hiring as stocks gain

JHRS — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 08:42:18 GMT

Nomura Holdings Inc. and SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. accelerated hiring of university graduates this year as the stock market rally brightens prospects for securities firms.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

SMTB to rehire retired employees through 70

JHRS — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 08:40:12 GMT

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank is set to rehire retired employees specializing in financial consulting services until they reach 70, instead of 65 at present, sources said Thursday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Auto workers double their pay hike demands this year

JHRS — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 08:37:39 GMT

The umbrella group representing automobile industry unions said 84 percent of its member unions are demanding a base wage hike of about ¥6,000 per month, double the demands they made last year.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Abenomics’ Slow Trickle Hitting Japan’s Workers

JHRS — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 02:45:36 GMT

Japan Inc is under pressure to boost pay to keep a fragile economic recovery afloat, but even hefty wages increases from the biggest companies may prove to be a hollow victory for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the bulk of the country’s workers.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/

800,000 firms likely dodged pension scheme

JHRS — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 03:48:40 GMT

About 800,000 small and midsize companies are strongly suspected of evading their legal obligation to join the public pension scheme for company employees, according to the results of a joint investigation by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the National Tax Agency.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Clocking off: Japan calls time on long-hours work culture

JHRS — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 03:38:29 GMT

The regulation eight hours in the office is over. The most important work of the day is done; whatever is left can wait until the morning. This is the point many workers would think about heading for the door.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/

Japanese auto workers demand raises as profits approach $34 billion

JHRS — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 03:42:34 GMT

Japan’s auto workers are asking their employers for a bigger share of their projected 4 trillion yen ($33.6 billion) in annual profit in the form of a raise for the next fiscal year.

Source: http://www.autonews.com/

Shinzo Abe to Japan, Inc.: Raise wages or else!

JHRS — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 02:54:33 GMT

Abe has in recent weeks cajoled, threatened and otherwise pressured corporate leaders to hike salaries. The lobbying effort has even extended to the golf course, where Abe is reportedly in the habit of inviting business titans for a round, and then asking them to raise wages.

Source: http://www.wptz.com/

Labor Ministry Gets Tough on Its Own Workaholics

JHRS — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 02:59:29 GMT

Japan’s ministry of health, labor and welfare is betting on abstinence instead of moderation in order to get its workaholic employees to stop staying late at the office.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/

Japan wants workers to take leave

JHRS — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 02:08:24 GMT

The Japanese government wants to make it obligatory for its citizens to take at least five days of paid annual leave a year to reduce their workload and avoid possible physical and mental health problems, local media reports.

Source: https://au.news.yahoo.com/

Japanese workers average 16 hours of unpaid overtime a month

JHRS — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 03:03:48 GMT

About 40 percent of Japanese workers put in unpaid overtime and their uncompensated overtime adds up to 16 hours a month on average, a labor union survey shows.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Oversight body proposed for Japan’s troubled foreign trainee program

JHRS — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 03:00:21 GMT

Officials on Friday proposed establishing an oversight body to tackle human rights abuses committed against foreigners working in Japan as trainees, as the Abe administration seeks to expand the troubled program to fight growing labor shortages.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Companies should inform potential employees of their working conditions

JHRS — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 03:07:11 GMT

A Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry panel has put together a report on a bill on the employment of young people. The main pillar of the legislation is to make it easier for students to collect information about the situations employees face at each corporation. The government is scheduled to submit the bill to the current Diet session.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan looks to accept more foreign nursing care workers to resolve labor shortage

JHRS — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 02:27:40 GMT

The health ministry released a draft plan Friday to include nursing care under the technical intern training program for foreigners to help increase foreign care workers and resolve related labor shortages in Japan.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Scholar offers secure way for employees to blow the whistle

JHRS — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 02:35:34 GMT

Companies struggling in the aftermath of scandals, such as Tokyo Electric Power Co., Takata Corp., Olympus Corp. and the Asahi Shimbun, might have mitigated the damage had they been less inclined to cover things up.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Sony to Cut 1,500 Jobs in Japan

JHRS — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 02:30:45 GMT

TOKYO — Sony plans to cut 1,500 jobs in various divisions in Japan through early retirement by the end of fiscal 2014, according to Japanese media reports.

Source: http://variety.com/

Grim times for Japan's displaced workers

JHRS — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 02:22:32 GMT

More than half of Japanese workers who are laid off will still be out of work a year later, according to a report yesterday, underlining the continuing economic challenges for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he embarks on his third year in power.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com

Go vacation! Japan’s new law to make companies care for workers’ rest

JHRS — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 02:18:07 GMT

A bill seeking to ensure workers take paid vacations is to be brought to Japan’s parliament. With less than half employees taking vacations, the new law aims to reduce overwork which can be fatal and create a proper work-life balance.

Source: http://rt.com/news/

Business group leaders call for wage hikes at firms

JHRS — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 03:04:46 GMT

The leaders of the three major business groups stressed Tuesday that it is important for companies in the country to expand capital expenditure and increase wages in order to help the economy to achieve a virtuous economic cycle.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Salary bar in merit pay plan to be raised to ¥10.75 million

JHRS — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 02:59:29 GMT

The labor ministry plans to extend the planned “white-collar exemption” system to highly skilled workers who make at least ¥10.75 million a year, informed sources said Wednesday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan announces new laws to force workers to go on holiday

JHRS — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 02:11:00 GMT

Japanese workers are so reluctant to leave their offices that they took less than half their holiday entitlement in 2013. The government now wants to raise that total to 70 per cent by 2020, according to the Yomiuri newspaper.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Japan eyes bill to improve employment of young people

JHRS — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 03:39:11 GMT

The government will submit a bill aimed at improving employment of young people during the upcoming ordinary Diet session slated for Jan. 24, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

Source: http://news.asiaone.com/

Employers to ensure workers use vacation

JHRS — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 02:54:29 GMT

Companies are likely to be required to designate the period in which employees take annual paid leave in a proposed bill for revising the Labor Standards Law, it has been learned. The proposed bill, which would ensure workers take paid leave, aims to prevent overwork and help employees realize a proper work-life balance. The government plans to submit the bill to the ordinary Diet session that will convene on Jan. 26.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

40% of complaints to HelloWork about false job descriptions

JHRS — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 03:36:00 GMT

About 40 percent of the complaints lodged with HelloWork job placement offices across the nation were about job postings that described working conditions more favorable than they actually were, according to a recent survey conducted by the labor ministry.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Mitsubishi Corp. aims to create jobs for Tohoku

JHRS — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 04:07:31 GMT

Mitsubishi Corp. will work on creating jobs in the Tohoku region as part of the company’s efforts to expand support for reconstruction of areas devastated by the March 2011 disaster, Mitsubishi President Ken Kobayashi said.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Nonregular employees exceed 20 mil. record

JHRS — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 03:56:22 GMT

The number of nonregular employees has exceeded 20 million in the country for the first time on record, accounting for 38 percent of all corporate employees, government data showed on Friday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan Nov. job availability up for 2nd straight month

JHRS — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 04:04:39 GMT

Japan's job availability rose for the second straight month in November, the government said Friday, suggesting companies remained willing to hire more workers with corporate profits improving.

Source: http://asia.nikkei.com/

Government to target creation of 300,000 jobs in provincial areas

JHRS — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 04:01:26 GMT

The government will set a goal of creating 300,000 jobs for young people in small cities and rural areas, with an eye to stopping the nation’s depopulation and excessive concentration of population and industry in the Tokyo metropolitan area, it has been learned.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Painting firm offers solutions to construction industry labor shortage

JHRS — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 04:03:20 GMT

With its aging workforce, Japan is facing a severe labor shortage in the construction and civil engineering industry. But a painting company in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, may have some answers.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Osaka municipal office’s tattoo check on employees ruled illegal

JHRS — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:58:23 GMT

A court ruled Wednesday that the Osaka municipal office’s 2012 investigation into whether its workers had tattoos was illegal for privacy reasons and invalidated its punishment of a plaintiff who refused to submit a required document.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Government to beef up jobs program for ex-convicts

JHRS — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:47:07 GMT

The Abe administration will boost a program that encourages companies to hire former convicts, raising the number of such firms to 1,500 from the current level of around 500 by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s Abe Vows to Push for Wage Increases

JHRS — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 03:52:16 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday he would press companies to raise wages next year, seeking to build on a decisive election victory and counter critics who say his policies don’t benefit average people.

Source: http://www.wsj.com/

Winter bonuses up sharply for government employees

JHRS — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 04:01:02 GMT

Japanese government workers in nonmanagerial posts received winter bonuses Wednesday, with the average amounting to ¥691,600, up ¥119,800 from a year before.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Quarter of workers suspect they are trapped at ‘black firms’

JHRS — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 03:50:36 GMT

A quarter of Japan’s workers believe they are working at “burakku kigyo” (black companies) undefined firms that resemble sweatshops and flout labor laws by inducing employees to work overtime without pay, a labor union survey says.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s Largest Union Wants 2% Wage Increase

JHRS — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 03:40:06 GMT

Japan’s largest labor union decided Tuesday to seek a 2 percent or greater basic pay raise in annual wage talks starting early next year, a higher goal than set for this year.

Source: http://www.marketpulse.com/

Japanese job hunt exhausts graduates

JHRS — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 03:35:14 GMT

Starting a new job is an exciting and anxious moment. Even though there are a lot of things to learn and remember, people are filled with the feeling that they are able to create their own future when they start their jobs. This is particularly true at your first postgraduate job because that job has influence on all your later jobs as well.

Source: http://host.madison.com/

Japan sanctioning mass ‘slave labor’ by duping foreign trainees, observers say

JHRS — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 08:51:53 GMT

The 31-year-old farmer is one of 50,000 Chinese who signed up for a government-run program that promises foreigners the chance to earn money while acquiring valuable on-the-job training. Like many of his compatriots, he hoped to leave Japan with cash in his pocket and a new set of skills that would give him a better shot at work at home.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Abe’s fiscal goals depend on continuous wage hikes

JHRS — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 08:55:27 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had one request when representatives of the government, labor and management met earlier this week at the Prime Minister’s Office: Raise wages in the next spring labor offensive.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Having a baby? Japanese women risk losing jobs

JHRS — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 03:11:48 GMT

Female workers in Japan who decide to have babies face obstacles at their workplace, including being forced to accept lower-paying jobs or having to quit.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/

Corporate recruiting uptrend must continue for sake of young people

JHRS — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 03:09:15 GMT

The informal recruitment rates for students soon to graduate from university and high school have improved significantly against the backdrop of brisk corporate performance. The uptrend must be maintained to realize stable employment for young people.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan September real wages fall at slower pace, spending still in doubt

JHRS — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 03:56:09 GMT

Japan's real wages fell at a slower annual rate in September, government data showed, but doubts about consumer spending are likely to linger as the government has made little progress with policies to promote economic growth.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/

Steak chain ordered to pay damages for employee’s suicide

JHRS — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 03:51:28 GMT

The Tokyo District Court on Tuesday ordered a steak restaurant chain and two company personnel to pay ¥57.9 million in damages to the parents of an employee who killed himself due to overwork and harassment.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Gender gap still wide in Japan job market

JHRS — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 03:47:02 GMT

Japanese women still receive lower wages than men do, with a high proportion of women working at part-time jobs, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Japan finalizes bill to accept foreign domestic workers in special areas

JHRS — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 03:05:56 GMT

TOKYO - The Japanese government finalized a bill Friday to accept foreign domestic workers in special zones and to implement a slew of other deregulatory measures in the designated areas in the country.

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com

Japan inflation, jobs slowdown a blow to Abenomics

JHRS — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 03:10:09 GMT

TOKYO--Japan's inflation rate fell to its lowest in nearly a year and a measure of job creation worsened for the first time in more than three years, highlighting the divergence between developments in the economy and policy makers' optimistic projections.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com

More firms using morning work hours to up efficiency

JHRS — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 04:24:43 GMT

An increasing number of companies are encouraging employees to start work earlier in the day in an effort to reduce overtime and improve their lifestyle. Besides improving the private lives of employees, implementing early morning work hours also is aimed at increasing job efficiency and cutting down on the expense of paying overtime.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Keidanren gets behind push to increase foreign workers

JHRS — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 04:28:02 GMT

Japan should accept more foreign workers to address labor shortages in the economy and sustain growth, the head of the country’s largest business lobby said Friday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Economic view lowered for 2nd month in row

JHRS — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 03:41:17 GMT

The government downgraded its basic economic assessment for the second straight month in a report released Tuesday, reflecting a delayed recovery in production after the April 1 consumption tax hike.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Firms urged to reward staff for patents

JHRS — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 03:18:02 GMT

The government will mandate that in exchange for obtaining invention patent rights, companies should offer rewards to employees for their inventions, including financial incentives and promotions.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

A dark force targets youth at their jobs

JHRS — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 03:23:16 GMT

In the ongoing discussion about workplace abuse, the media has advanced yet another new term. “Black baito” modifies the already popular phrase “black kigyō,” which are companies that manipulate or ignore labor standards in order to get employees to work overtime without pay. “Baito” is an abbreviation of arbeit, the German word that in Japan stands for part-time work, so “black baito” refers specifically to part-time workers.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Firms’ views mixed over adopting non-hourly pay

JHRS — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 03:15:29 GMT

Many large companies seeking to strengthen their global operations are actively considering replacing time-based pay systems with structures based on results.The government is moving forward on designing such a system to be launched in April 2016, hoping it will aid economic growth.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Temporary staffing bill debate goes beyond simple ‘increase or decrease’

JHRS — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 03:33:56 GMT

The focus of their debate over the bill is what should be done to improve the treatment of temporary employees and guarantee their job security. Legislators need to promote constructive debates on the whole issue during the extraordinary Diet session, which opened on Sept. 29.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

More Females In Workforce Japan’s Saving Grace

JHRS — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 03:30:07 GMT

According to Thomas Klitgaard and Preston Mui of the NY Fed’s Liberty Street Economics, Japan’s population is both shrinking and getting older, with the population falling at a 0.2% rate in 2014 and the working-age population (ages 16 to 64) plummeting at the rate of almost 1.5% a year. Contrast this with the U.S. population, which is is rising at a 0.7% a year with the working-age population increasing at a 0.2% rate.

Source: http://www.valuewalk.com/

Lawson chain set to raise age limit for hiring store managers to 65

JHRS — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 03:56:40 GMT

Major convenience store chain operator Lawson Inc. plans to raise the age limit for hiring operations managers at its outlets from 55 to 65 Tuesday in a bid to tap the expertise and experience of older people, company sources said Sunday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Labor reforms should not lead to health issues

JHRS — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 03:43:26 GMT

At a House of Councillors plenary meeting, Abe commented on proposed labor reforms, including a shift to merit-based pay among Japanese companies from a system that pays wages in accordance with amount of hours worked.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Japan's jobless rate falls to 3.5% in August

JHRS — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 04:25:30 GMT

Japan's unemployment rate dropped to 3.5 percent in August from 3.8 percent the previous month, marking the first improvement in three months, government data showed Tuesday, but the reduction was not necessarily a positive sign for the nation's economy, according to an official.

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/

Japan's Hidden Unemployment Problem

JHRS — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 03:09:00 GMT

Basic pay is at last rising in Japan, but only in cash terms. After adjusting for inflation, real wages are falling rapidly. If Abenomics is to succeed, the household sector must play a part in the recovery. At a minimum, that requires that increases in wages more than keep pace with increases in prices. In Japan, the ratio of job openings to applicants now stands at 1.10. It is not only above its pre-crisis peak of 1.07, it is at its highest level in more than 20 years. The Bank of Japan hopes that a tighter labour market will put upward pressure on wages, encouraging more consumption.

Source: http://seekingalpha.com/

Foreign workers merit 'consideration' in Japan

JHRS — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 03:12:26 GMT

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said that using foreign workers to help mitigate potential labour force shortages in the future deserves consideration.

Source: http://www.lexology.com/

Toshiba to cut 900 PC jobs

JHRS — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 03:53:12 GMT

Toshiba Corp. will cut 900 jobs, or 20 percent of its global workforce in personal computer operations, by the end of March next year. The move is part of the Japanese electronics maker’s efforts to turn around its struggling PC business.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Number of Elderly Workers at Record High

JHRS — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 03:57:18 GMT

The survey found that of the total Japanese workforce of 63 million, 6.36 million are elderly, or 65 or older. Since there are 33 million elderly people in Japan, one in four now work, mostly as part-timers, the highest rate among major economies, the survey found.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/

New rewards for firms that hire ex-inmates

JHRS — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 02:06:45 GMT

The Justice Ministry intends to provide incentives to cooperative employers who hire those who have been released from prisons or juvenile correctional institutions. The employers would receive a maximum of ¥720,000 per year per former prisoner, starting next April, sources have said. The ministry was to ask for more than ¥1 billion in the next fiscal budget request for this incentive program.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

OECD urges Japan to up jobs for women

JHRS — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 02:03:09 GMT

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development urged Japan on Wednesday to help more women get jobs, saying that the country’s gender difference in employment rates is wider than those of other advanced nations.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Japan’s megabanks break glass ceiling for foreign managers

JHRS — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 03:31:59 GMT

Among recent appointments: In July, Debra Hazelton became the first foreign general manager at Mizuho Financial Group’s Tokyo headquarters, where she leads a new department to manage global staff. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group’s lending arm promoted two foreigners to executive officer in April, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group’s banking unit appointed its first non-Japanese executive officer last year.

Source: http://www.dawn.com/

Japanese employers promote power naps

JHRS — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 03:28:05 GMT

The power nap has become part of the daily work routine for an increasing number of Japanese employees, who are encouraged to snooze on the job.

Source: http://www.recruiter.co.uk

Tokyo Gives Housewives Hard Choice

JHRS — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 02:55:37 GMT

Japan's tax system has long sent the message that the ideal role for women is to stay mostly at home. Now, the government is weighing tax changes aimed at bringing more women into the workforce--a plan that is driving a wedge between some working women and homemakers who have benefited under the traditional system.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/

Survey Finds More Job Dissatisfaction in Japan

JHRS — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 02:48:22 GMT

According to a survey released Tuesday by LinkedIn Corp., which runs the popular career-networking website, 7% of Japanese surveyed said they were “very dissatisfied” with their current role, compared to the global average of 4%. That puts Japan at the top of 26 countries surveyed in the research.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/

Japanese firms encourage their dozy workers to sleep on the job

JHRS — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 03:20:37 GMT

In Japan, where workers get less sleep on work nights than those in other countries, more and more companies are encouraging employees to sleep on the job, convinced that it leads to better work performance.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/

Nonprofit group aims to help female students meet their potential

JHRS — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 03:17:34 GMT

Tokyo-based nonprofit organization Hanalabs is offering female college students in Japan a chance to advance their careers by devising solutions to social problems affecting communities in need of revitalization.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Nissan Japan Employees Join Habitat for Humanity in Tohoku

JHRS — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 02:52:35 GMT

20 Nissan employees in Japan are hard at work in the Tohoku region of Japan, working with Habitat for Humanity to restore the region to a state comparable to that prior to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Source: http://thenewswheel.com/

Division between temporary, regular employment should be addressed

JHRS — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 03:10:32 GMT

Regular workers on the corporate payroll are afforded employment security, despite often being required to work overtime and accept job relocation. Meanwhile, nonregular employees are poorly paid in many cases, and their employment status is unstable.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

70% of university graduates have found employment

JHRS — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 02:39:11 GMT

According to the education ministry’s preliminary School Basic Survey report released Thursday, 372,662 graduates, or 65.9 percent, are regular employees while more than 100,000 new graduates are working as part-timers or temps or have no jobs.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

8% of employees in charge of corporate data admit mismanagement: Trend Micro poll

JHRS — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 02:27:31 GMT

The survey was conducted from June 23 to 25 on corporate employees in charge of data management, given the recent case of Benesse Corp. in which personal information on millions of customers was illegally stolen by a man with access to the company’s database.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Firms’ employee health criteria for diabetes vary

JHRS — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 02:30:58 GMT

About one-third of companies do not know whether their employees have diabetes. Each company also has different criteria regarding the results of health checkups when encouraging employees to consult with doctors, according to a survey conducted by a doctor and others.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan’s workers still wait for wage boost

JHRS — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 02:34:24 GMT

Six months after Japanese workers were told by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to prepare for a “wage surprise” many are still waiting, seeing incomes eaten away by the fastest inflation in more than three decades.

Source: http://www.ft.com/

Japan's June unemployment rate rises to 3.7 pct

JHRS — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 03:08:27 GMT

Japan's unemployment rate in June rose 0.2 percentage point from the previous month to 3.7 percent, marking the first rise in 10 months, the Japanese Internal Affairs Ministry said Tuesday.

Source: http://www.shanghaidaily.com

It’s a Woman’s World in Japan’s Jobs Recovery

JHRS — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 03:04:14 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has trumpeted the need to get more women in the workforce as key to putting the world’s third-largest economy on the path to long-term growth. The proportion of females in Japan’s overall labor force lags many other rich nations and with the population rapidly aging, economists say maintaining growth will depend on getting more women working.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/

Reallocation of govt employees should be promoted flexibly

JHRS — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 02:55:11 GMT

The Cabinet Bureau of Personnel Affairs, which was established in May, has set target numbers for reallocating and reducing personnel for all government ministries and agencies. Based on these targets, personnel will be reallocated to increase the number of officials at offices suffering from manpower shortages, including the Disaster Reconstruction Agency, the Japan Coast Guard, customs and immigration offices and quarantine stations.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Smaller firms faced tough pay decisions

JHRS — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 02:59:04 GMT

This year’s shunto spring labor-management wage negotiations saw the average pay rate hike exceed 2 percent, including those for annual regular wage hikes, according to the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo).

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Ricoh cancels transfer orders for 100 workers

JHRS — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 04:06:29 GMT

Ricoh Co. plans to cancel job transfer orders for some 100 employees who refused to apply for early retirement, sources said Saturday. Some of the employees have filed lawsuits, asking a court to confirm that they have no obligation to agree to be transferred. Two have reached a court-mediated settlement with the company.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Osaka zone a litmus test of foreign worker policy

JHRS — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 04:03:54 GMT

A long-sought immigration system that will provide Japanese working families, and working women in particular, with much-needed help and create a more multiethnic Japan, or an ill-considered political sop to female voters that will lead to discrimination and human rights abuses?

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s nuclear workers quitting jobs in droves

JHRS — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 03:58:18 GMT

Stigma, pay cuts and risk of radiation exposure are among the reasons why 3,000 employees have left the utility at the center of Japan’s 2011 nuclear disaster. Now there’s an additional factor: better-paying jobs in the solar energy industry.

Source: http://www.journalgazette.net/

Sony to solicit employees for early retirement

JHRS — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 03:08:40 GMT

Sony Corp. will solicit applicants for early retirement from its corporate planning and finance sections at its Tokyo headquarters starting in August as it restructures and cuts costs, sources said Tuesday. The program is part of a reform plan unveiled in February that includes slashing 1,500 domestic jobs, including those at group companies, by the end of the current business year through next March.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Foreign women also face ‘maternity harassment’

JHRS — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 03:12:08 GMT

In line with Japan’s child-care leave law, Aimee took a year off from her job as a business coach when her son was born last year. Having recently secured a place for her son at a public day-care center, she was looking forward to returning to work. On her first day back, however, Aimee’s boss called her into his office and told her that her services were no longer required.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese Base Pay Rises for First Time in More Than Two Years

JHRS — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 03:42:20 GMT

TOKYO—Average wages excluding extra payments increased in Japan for the first time in more than two years in May, reflecting recent growth in the number of high-paying full-time jobs.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/

Japan’s unemployment rate at 16-year low, employment levels highest since 1992

JHRS — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 03:45:04 GMT

Tokyo: Japan's unemployment rate hit a 16-year low in May, suggesting the economy will rebound in the third quarter from a sales tax hike and consequent slump in consumer spending.

Source: http://firstbiz.firstpost.com/

Japan May job availability up to 1.09, best in 22 years

JHRS — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 03:47:19 GMT

Japan's job availability improved in May to its best level in around 22 years, while the unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent, its lowest level in more than 16 years, with companies willing to hire more workers on the back of an economic recovery, the government said Friday.

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/

Japan Jobs Market Improves, Inflation Slows

JHRS — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 03:36:15 GMT

TOKYO—Japan's economy added jobs at an impressive clip according to the latest official data, underscoring the progress Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is making in putting the economy on a solid growth path.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/

Ending Japan’s sexism requires men to lean in, too

JHRS — Sat, 21 Jun 2014 05:54:30 GMT

The Tokyo assemblywoman two days ago urged colleagues to budget assistance for women struggling to balance work and child rearing, and to offer funding for fertility treatments undefined sage advice one would think in a fast-aging nation where pets now outnumber children. The response from male members of Abe’s own Liberal Democratic Party? Sexist jeers. “You’re the one who needs to get married,” shouted one member, reports said. “Can’t you even bear a child,” yelled another.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Sagawa Express to Hire 10,000 Housewives in Two Years

JHRS — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 05:59:32 GMT

Sagawa Express Co. said it planned to hire 10,000 housewives as part-time workers in the next two years. They would comprise more than 20% of Sagawa’s delivery crew.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/

‘Womenomics’ push raises suspicions for lack of reality

JHRS — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 03:42:20 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may be a political hawk who believes Japan can once again become a macho state that can hold its own against regional threats, but as he looks for money and muscle he is turning to an unlikely source: women.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

The thrill of the job won’t pay the rent

JHRS — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 03:38:58 GMT

Last January, NHK’s nightly in-depth news series, “Closeup Gendai,” ran a feature about the practice of “poeticizing” (poemu-ka) the harsher aspects of life. It’s not a trend that’s easy to explain, and the program used an event called Izakaya Koshien as an illustration. A food service industry convention invites izakaya (drinking establishments) from all over Japan to send employees who present their ideas for “making Japan feel good.” On stage, staff from the businesses they represent declaimed in stylized speech how much they love their work and how it fulfills their “dreams.” The most convincing presentation won a prize.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan’s salarymen are bored to tears

JHRS — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 05:44:07 GMT

It seems odd to be talking about boredom in such interesting times. Are you bored? Almost certainly you are, if Spa! magazine’s insights are reliable. Polling 2,052 mid-career (age 35-45), moderately prosperous (annual income ¥4 million-¥6 million) businessmen (sic, men only), it found no fewer than 85 percent confessing to being bored at work.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Workers get leg up in early morning

JHRS — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 05:39:34 GMT

Company employees’ early morning activities, dubbed “asakatsu” in Japanese, are diversifying. Until recently, workers engaged mainly self-developmental programs, such as obtaining licenses or certificates, but now they are branching out into hobbies, leisure, physical exercise and various other activities.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan April job availability up to 1.08, best in over 7 yrs

JHRS — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 03:24:08 GMT

Japan's job availability improved in April to its best level in over seven years while the unemployment rate stayed at a low level, underscoring that companies are eager to hire more workers amid an economy recovery despite a consumption tax hike, the government said Friday.

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/

Website targets women for management jobs

JHRS — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 03:20:43 GMT

BizReach Inc., a Tokyo-based job search company, has introduced a career-change website for women, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe encourages companies to boost female leadership.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Urges Professionals To Follow A ‘Cool’ Dress Code At Work, The Reason Is As Bizarre As The Campaign

JHRS — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 03:12:29 GMT

Japanese businessmen and businesswomen have always dressed impeccably at their respective workplaces. Though in the business world such a practice is certainly praiseworthy, the local government doesn’t think so and hence has initiated a weirdly named ‘Super Cool Biz’ campaign to encourage people to dress casually at workplace.

Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/

Thousands of Japanese employees protest gov’t plan of eliminating overtime pay

JHRS — Wed, 28 May 2014 03:25:08 GMT

To further push an export-driven economy toward recovery, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently proposed a new labor system where payment would be “standardized” for all employees. This would mean, among others, the elimination of overtime pay for most employees. A huge number of Japanese workers gathered in simultaneous protest actions on Tuesday, May 27, to raise their voices against what is naturally seen as an unfair proposal for Japan’s workforce.

Source: http://japandailypress.com

Abe backs "womenomics" to increase, improve Japan's workforce

JHRS — Tue, 27 May 2014 03:28:15 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe voiced his support Tuesday for enhancing women's participation in Japan's workforce in front of business and government heavyweights, reiterating his goal of having women hold 30 percent of senior management positions in the country by 2020.

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/

Cancer treatment must be partnered with employment security for patients

JHRS — Sun, 25 May 2014 03:51:47 GMT

The number of cancer patients who have both the motivation and the ability to work has been markedly increasing. It is essential to ensure workplace environments that are conducive to helping people with cancer maintain both their medical treatment and their careers.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Legislation needed to prevent ‘karoshi’ death from overwork

JHRS — Sun, 18 May 2014 03:58:10 GMT

The number of people dying from overwork has shown no signs of declining significantly. Working conditions must be improved and further measures are needed to prevent “karoshi,” or death from excessive work.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Job situation for college grads picks up for 3rd year

JHRS — Fri, 16 May 2014 03:54:17 GMT

The government said Friday 94.4 percent of March college graduates were employed as of the April 1 start of the 2014 business year, up 0.5 percentage point from a year earlier and marking the third straight year of improvement.

Source: http://mainichi.jp/

Hiring of disabled hits record high

JHRS — Thu, 15 May 2014 04:00:15 GMT

The number of people with disabilities who found jobs through public job placement offices in Japan hit a record high for the fourth consecutive year in fiscal 2013, according to government data released on Wednesday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

More firms watching business partners for work conditions

JHRS — Sun, 11 May 2014 02:01:29 GMT

An increasing number of large companies are taking strict measures to inspect the working environments of their business partners, in the belief that their social credibility could be tarnished by associating with companies that treat their employees poorly.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Making Abenomics Work for Japan: Wages won't rise until reforms boost productivity.

JHRS — Thu, 08 May 2014 01:57:01 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic revival plan for Japan is entering a new phase, and all eyes are on the labor market. After a year of unprecedented monetary expansion, there are signs that growth, inflation and corporate profits are ticking up. Now the question is whether wages and consumption will follow. This is where Mr. Abe risks meeting his Waterloo if he doesn't pick up the pace of reform.

Source:http://online.wsj.com/

Abe Says Wages, Jobs Key to Beating Deflation, Pledges EU Deal

JHRS — Thu, 01 May 2014 03:06:22 GMT

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said wages and employment must rise for his country to beat deflation, as he promised to secure an economic partnership between Japan and Europe.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com

Japan’s jobs market is getting tighter

JHRS — Thu, 01 May 2014 02:59:27 GMT

Data released earlier Friday showed Japan's jobless rate at 3.6 percent in March, holding steady from February when it hit lows last seen in July 2007. Separate figures showed the jobs-to-applicants ratio rise to 1.07 from 1.05 in February, showing that the availability of jobs continues to improve.

Source: http://www.cnbc.com

Workers’ monthly pay logs 0.7% rise

JHRS — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 03:12:13 GMT

Average monthly pay for workers climbed 0.7 percent in March from a year earlier to ¥276,740, the first increase in three months, the labor ministry said Wednesday in a preliminary report.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Seeks Foreign Workers, Uneasily

JHRS — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 02:55:31 GMT

Desperate for more workers to support a construction boom, Japan has proposed to expand its controversial foreign trainee programme to permit more unskilled labour from Asia to work in Japanese companies for five years from the current three years.

Source: http://www.ipsnews.net/

IKEA Japan plans to overhaul workforce to promote equality among staff

JHRS — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 09:28:51 GMT

The Japanese division of Swedish furniture chain IKEA recently announced that they will make large changes to their job descriptions including the elimination of fixed-term contracts for part-time workers.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

30% female employment goal in jeopardy: Civil service must look to outsiders to fill ranks, equality minister says

JHRS — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 09:16:06 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will fail to meet his goal of having women in 30 percent of management positions in the civil service by 2020 unless candidates are lured from private industry, the gender equality minister said in a recent interview.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan rolls out tax hike to get women to work

JHRS — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 09:12:13 GMT

The administration is reviewing rules that let about 14 million married workers earn as much as 1.03 million yen, or about $11,000, a year tax-free. Removing the measures, which cost an estimated annual $6.5 billion in fiscal revenue, could spur some women to work longer hours, and help bolster Japan's shrinking job market. "The traditional family structure where husbands go out to work and wives look after the home is crumbling," said Akiyoshi Takumori, chief economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. "The labour force is shrinking and there is a growing need for immigrants or women to work."

Source: http://www.leaderpost.com

Japanese wage hikes at 16-year high

JHRS — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 09:19:07 GMT

The average monthly wage hike for major Japanese companies through annual wage talks this spring exceeded 7,000 for the first time in 16 years, the Japan Business Federation said Wednesday.

Source:http://www.bangkokpost.com/

ACCJ proposes new type of 'regular employee' contract option

JHRS — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 09:21:36 GMT

The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) on Thursday issued a viewpoint titled “Add Flexibility to the Labor Contract Law to Address Burgeoning Social Inequality While Spurring Economic Growth.” The viewpoint calls upon the Japanese government to create a new type of “regular employee” contract for full time workers to enhance the country’s labor mobility, an essential factor for economic growth.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Foreign trainee program given OK for expansion: Extra labor urgently needed for 2020 Games, Tohoku rebuilding

JHRS — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 02:55:59 GMT

The government decided Friday to expand the controversial foreign trainee program to counter the nation’s rapidly thinning domestic labor force, which is hobbling the construction industry just when demand is skyrocketing for projects related to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese government considering expansion of controversial program to attract more foreign workers

JHRS — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 02:52:49 GMT

Japan is now mulling on loosening up a program that offers foreigners opportunities to work in Japan for up to three years. The program, which will allow nationals from China and other countries, is part of the Abe administration’s solution to an aging workforce. The new proposal submitted by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday includes prolonging the length of stay from three to up to five years, relaxing hiring rules for employers and opening more jobs to foreigners.

Source: http://japandailypress.com/

Builders aim to double skilled female workers

JHRS — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 04:33:07 GMT

The Japan Federation of Construction Contractors wants to double the number of skilled female construction workers to some 180,000 within the next five years to help ease the industry’s labor shortage.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Graduates’ job outlook improves

JHRS — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 02:08:20 GMT

Against the backdrop of an Abenomics-fueled economic upturn, the number of companies planning to recruit more new graduates next spring compared to this year has increased, a joint survey by The Yomiuri Shimbun and Nippon Television Network has found.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

TEPCO to hire 750 new personnel in 2015

JHRS — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 01:53:26 GMT

TEPCO decided to boost hiring of new graduates next year after many young employees left the company. In the three years since the crisis began, 1,550 employees, mainly young people, voluntarily quit.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

For First Time in Years, a Raise for Many Japanese Workers

JHRS — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 01:44:54 GMT

Japan’s bid to revive its economy got much-needed backing Wednesday after a group of major exporters said they would raise wages for the first time in years. Still, union leaders warned that a wider recovery hinged on the fate of low-wage, informal workers who make up a growing part of the country’s labor force.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/

Major firms may hire more female grads

JHRS — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 01:49:55 GMT

The potential boost is likely the result of the efforts of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has made increasing the female workforce a major component of his growth strategy compiled in June 2013, the third and final “arrow” in his “Abenomics” economic policy package.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

26 TSE-listed firms praised for gender equality initiatives

JHRS — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 02:05:37 GMT

Tokyo Stock Exchange Inc. and the industry ministry have jointly selected 26 companies listed on the TSE’s first section as “Nadeshiko Brand” firms that actively promote the use of female employees’ abilities. Nadeshiko is a pink flower perceived as a symbol of the beauty and grace of Japanese women.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Nonregular staff seek wage hikes

JHRS — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 01:56:06 GMT

In this year’s shunto spring labor-management wage talks, there is growing sentiment among nonregular employees and workers of small and midsize companies for wage hikes.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Toyota to hire 1,350 new grads, midcareer workers in ’14

JHRS — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 02:00:01 GMT

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to hire 1,350 new graduates and midcareer workers in its annual recruitment plan for fiscal 2014, maintaining the same level as this year, which ends March 31, company officials said.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

46% of companies plan wage hikes for full-time workers

JHRS — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 02:26:13 GMT

In the survey, conducted last month, 46.4 percent of companies said wages will rise in the year, up from 39.3 percent in the fiscal 2013 survey.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Workers say strikes out in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 02:21:24 GMT

Japan’s unions have started demanding wage hikes from cash-rich firms as annual pay talks get under way, setting up a rare showdown after years of drama-free labour relations.

Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

Japan leads world in employing elderly people

JHRS — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 02:17:30 GMT

Japan’s employment rate has set a new record with more than 10% of its working population now made up of people aged 65 years and older. This is in stark contrast of its Western counterparts whose employment of those aged 65 years and older is only within 1-5% of its total employed population.

Source: http://japandailypress.com/

Japanese workers rule out strike in bid for wage hike

JHRS — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 01:40:18 GMT

Japan's unions have started demanding wage hikes from cash-rich firms as annual pay talks get under way, setting up a rare showdown after years of drama-free labor relations.

Source: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/

Companies conscious of employees’ health

JHRS — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 01:32:09 GMT

An increasing number of companies are aiming to improve employees’ health, such as by implementing measures to help workers improve their lifestyles, which likely will contribute to better business performance. The government has moved to assist such companies.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Stalking employees? Japan's Hitachi has a device to do it

JHRS — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 04:12:44 GMT

A Japanese company has developed a device that can track everything you do in the workplace — from how long you have been sitting idle to how often you visit the lavatory.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/

Worker shortage hits construction sites

JHRS — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 04:15:54 GMT

The number of construction workers has fallen to about less than three-quarters of the peak in 1997. Meanwhile, construction orders in terms of workload volumes have been rising because of the economic recovery and preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Govt to provide subsidies for ‘temp-to-permanent staffing’

JHRS — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 02:19:39 GMT

The government has decided to start providing subsidies for “temp-to-permanent staffing” in fiscal 2014 to improve employment situations for young people, sources said.

Source:http://the-japan-news.com/

New Hello Work helps young find regular jobs

JHRS — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 02:16:44 GMT

Starting next fiscal year, the labor ministry will bolster efforts to support young people seeking to work as regular employees by taking such measures as increasing the number of its job placement offices exclusively targeting nonregular young workers, ministry officials said.

Source:http://the-japan-news.com/

Number of workers from overseas hits new high

JHRS — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 02:23:09 GMT

The number of foreign workers in Japan stood at 717,504 at the end of October, up 5.1 percent from a year before, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has said.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Ratio of nonregular workers in Japan hits record high in 2013

JHRS — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 02:39:26 GMT

The ratio of nonregular workers in Japan's workforce, including part-time and contract workers, rose 1.4 percentage points from the previous year to record-high 36.6 percent in 2013, a government survey showed Friday.

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/

Japan’s unemployment rate 3.7% vs. 3.9% forecast

JHRS — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 02:38:33 GMT

In a report, the Statistics Bureau said that the percentage of the total work force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment during the previous month fell to a seasonally adjusted 3.7%, from 4.0% in the preceding month.

Source: http://www.investing.com/

Japanese firms mostly unaware of benefits of hiring from JET ranks: poll

JHRS — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 02:51:11 GMT

Japanese companies are less aware than their foreign counterparts of the government-sponsored Japan Exchange and Teaching Program and are thus missing out on an opportunity to hire foreigners who have the skills they need, a recent survey by a major business lobby showed.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Renesas to cut 5,400 employees by March 2016

JHRS — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 02:26:56 GMT

The struggling chipmaker also is considering downsizing its workforce by dismissing some employees for the purposes of reorganization, according to sources.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

JR Hokkaido punishes 75 employees over track data falsification

JHRS — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 04:08:01 GMT

Hokkaido Railway Co. on Tuesday announced punitive measures for 75 employees over the failure to fix track defects and falsification of track maintenance data.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

76% of students graduating in March have jobs

JHRS — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 02:18:28 GMT

More than three-quarters of university students graduating this March have a job lined up for April, up for the third straight year, according to a government survey released Tuesday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Employment in Japan to ‘improve’

JHRS — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 02:15:25 GMT

“Japan is moving in a better direction in terms of growth and employment,” Raymond Torres, director of the U.N. organization’s International Institute for Labour Studies, said at a press conference.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Why Japan's builders are eyeing more foreign workers

JHRS — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 02:32:54 GMT

Japanese building contractors are increasingly looking to foreign workers to cover labor shortages plaguing the industry in the wake of reconstruction demand after the 2011 earthquake and ahead of a likely building boom prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

Orix to Raise Basic Pay for Young Employees by 3 pct

JHRS — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 02:22:00 GMT

Major leasing firm Orix Corp. said it will raise the basic salaries of young employees by an average of about 3 percent in April. The initial salary of career-track employees up to their mid-30s will be raised 5 percent, while an ordinary employee will see a rise of about 3.5 percent.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Employers pay, entice workers to take leave

JHRS — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 02:28:47 GMT

An increasing number of companies are starting unique leave programs aimed at improving employee morale.

Software developer Cybozu Inc., for example, allows employees to leave their jobs for up to six years to study abroad or take other sabbaticals, because it believes the program, introduced in May 2012, helps employees accumulate outside experience that can be used when they return.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Consumption tax hike must support stable social security

JHRS — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 02:25:13 GMT

In April, Japan’s consumption tax rate will be raised from 5 percent to 8 percent. The tax hike is placed as the main pillar of the nation’s integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, and the increase in tax revenues will be used exclusively for social security purposes.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Sony to cut more jobs at failing electronic equipment division

JHRS — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 03:43:30 GMT

Japanese consumer electronics giant Sony Corp. is looking to slash more jobs after its mainstream electronics equipment division continues to fail in producing profits. The company has not set a target number of jobs to be cut for this latest downsizing action, but according to Sony, the movement will affect five plants operated by Sony EMCS Corp. Sony EMCS produces digital cameras, TV sets and computers at plants in Aichi Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture, employing around 5,000 people.

Source: http://japandailypress.com/

Panasonic to cut 1,000 jobs in IT

JHRS — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 03:39:22 GMT

Panasonic Corp. plans to eliminate about 1,000 positions — two-thirds of the division for in-house information system development — on July 1, according to sources.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan's Nov. job availability rises to 1.00, best in 6 yrs

JHRS — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 09:19:46 GMT

Japan's job availability rose to 1.00 in November, its best level in over six years, as the labor market has improved with an economic recovery helping shore up corporate earnings, the government said Friday.

Source:http://www.globalpost.com/

‘Creative’ rules for work hours urged

JHRS — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 09:11:58 GMT

In an interim report, a subpanel of the government’s industrial competitiveness council urged the introduction of a new system that requires businesses to increase flexibility in the way employees work and pay only a certain amount of salary regardless of working hours.

Source:http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Dwango’s hiring exam fee causes stir

JHRS — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 09:28:42 GMT

A new initiative by major information technology firm Dwango Co. of collecting ¥2,525 from exam takers expected to graduate in spring of 2015 is raising eyebrows.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Ex-FCCJ workers sue over dismissal

JHRS — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 09:15:01 GMT

Seven former food-service workers at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan sued the press club Tuesday for unfair dismissal during its transition to a public interest corporation.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

48% of firms to hire foreign students in Japan in 2014: survey

JHRS — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 02:26:13 GMT

According to Disco Inc., 48.4 percent of the companies intend to hire such students in fiscal 2014, which is 13.2 points higher than those that actually followed through on such hires in fiscal 2013.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan to allocate 1.34 bln USD for employment under extra budget

JHRS — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 02:20:35 GMT

TOKYO, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan's labor ministry plans to spend 138 billion yen (about 1.34 billion U.S. dollars) to promote employment under a supplementary budget aimed at boosting the country's stagnant economy, according to local media.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/

University students start job hunt

JHRS — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 03:23:26 GMT

University juniors planning to graduate in spring 2015 started their job hunt Sunday, when companies began their recruiting activities. In Tokyo, job information service companies hosted seminars for students to receive explanations on business activities from firms in which they are interested.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Nomura’s young employees to get 2% pay increase

JHRS — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 03:44:24 GMT

Nomura Securities Co. announced it will raise the salaries of about 4,000 mainly young employees by an average of 2 percent next April. Monthly pay will be increased by ¥10,000 for entry-level employees with university degrees and by ¥5,000 for those in the next job grade, the company said Friday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan Salaries Extend Slide as Inflation Begins to Take Root

JHRS — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 03:48:26 GMT

Japan’s salaries extended the longest tumble since 2010, increasing pressure on household finances as inflation begins to take root. Regular wages excluding overtime and bonuses fell 0.4 percent in October from a year earlier, a 17th straight monthly decline, according to labor ministry data released today. Total cash earnings rose 0.1 percent.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/

Employment rate among women rises to record 63%

JHRS — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 03:39:18 GMT

A record high 63 percent of women aged between 15 and 64 held jobs in September, up 2 percentage points from a year earlier, according to a labor force survey by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Job-hunting grads learn to dress

JHRS — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 04:31:14 GMT

With the official start of the job-hunting season approaching next Sunday, many students in the graduating class of spring 2015 are buying business suits, shoes and eyeglasses that will allow them to look their best at job interviews.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

New trends in Japan’s labor relations system

JHRS — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 04:26:56 GMT

The “land of the rising sun” has not stopped reinventing. True to its kaizen (continuous improvement) form and spirit, Japan’s tripartite players have remodeled, rejuvenated, refashioned, and reengineered its system to meet the needs of the ever-changing landscape of labor-management relations.

Source: http://www.bworldonline.com/

Tepco aiming to cut 1,000 jobs via voluntary redundancy

JHRS — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 03:50:12 GMT

Tokyo Electric Power Co. is looking to shed 1,000 jobs through a voluntary redundancy program to boost efficiency and improve earnings, sources revealed Saturday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Middle-aged national govt employees to see pay cut

JHRS — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:55:07 GMT

The central government will rein in the salaries of middle-aged and senior national government employees, aiming to show its efforts on administrative reform by bringing their salaries more in line with the private sector as many firms have started to limit their number of middle-aged workers in anticipation of an increase in the retirement age.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Fukushima No. 1 workers to get raise, perks

JHRS — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 05:04:24 GMT

Aiming to boost the morale of workers at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Friday it will raise wages and construct two new office buildings, an eight-story “rest station” and a food service center in the facility’s compound.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

BOJ board ranks urge boost in jobs, incomes

JHRS — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 04:59:40 GMT

Some members of the Bank of Japan’s Policy Board called for improvement in the employment and income situation to maintain solid domestic demand, given the relatively slow pace in the recovery of exports and production, according to the minutes of their Oct. 3-4 meeting.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan at the end of global top when it comes to hiring women

JHRS — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 05:07:52 GMT

The recently released Gender Gap Report by the Swiss-based nonprofit World Economic Forum shows that Japan ranked the 105th position out of a total of 136 when it comes to hiring women. The country plunged 25 places from its ranking when the report was inaugurated in 2006.

Source: http://www.tokyotimes.com/

Japan's big manufacturers signal tentative willingness to hike wages

JHRS — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 03:41:48 GMT

Japan’s big manufacturers, under pressure from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to boost wages and create a “virtuous cycle” of growth to defeat deflation, are showing signs they are willing to raise workers’ pay.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Astellas Pharma To Shrink Japan Staff By 300 In FY14

JHRS — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 03:33:57 GMT

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Astellas Pharma Inc. will shed 300 employees, or roughly 4% of its group workforce at home, in the year ending March 2015, the company announced Friday.

Source: http://e.nikkei.com/

Yahoo Japan to allow senior employees to take leave of up to 3 months

JHRS — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:36:25 GMT

Internet service company Yahoo Japan Corp. will begin Friday to allow senior employees to take leave of up to three months with one month's pay, company officials said Thursday.

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/

Japan Tobacco to Cut 1,600 Jobs, Close Four Plants

JHRS — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 03:28:28 GMT

TOKYO -Japan Tobacco (IW 1000/192) said Wednesday it will slash 1,600 jobs and close four factories, downsizing domestic cigarette production as sales fall at home.

Source: http://www.industryweek.com/

Female inmates to receive new job training

JHRS — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 01:51:38 GMT

The Justice Ministry will introduce a new job training program for female prison inmates to help them obtain qualifications for medical administrative work as part of the ministry’s efforts to support inmates’ employment after their release and prevent them from slipping into recidivism.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Tax hike may induce firms to use more temp workers

JHRS — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 01:56:29 GMT

In what could be an unintended consequence, the sales tax hike set for next April may tempt companies to replace their regular workers with “haken” temporary workers, some tax law experts say.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Firms giving refugees jobs instead of charity

JHRS — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 01:49:08 GMT

With applications for refugee status reaching record levels, a number of Japanese businesses are providing employment and training to people forced to flee their home country due to war and persecution, with emphasis on genuine vocational opportunities rather than charity.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Limited-term employees to be hired up to 10 years

JHRS — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 02:02:01 GMT

To help companies secure the services of such professionals as lawyers, certified accountants and experts with a master’s or doctor’s degree, the government plans to double the current five-year limit on their contract terms, sources said Thursday.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Govt to shelve key employment deregulatory items

JHRS — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 08:54:21 GMT

The government has decided to shelve three key employment components among deregulatory measures planned to be introduced in the “national strategy special zones” that the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sees as the centerpiece of its growth strategy.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Job hunt stressing students, making them suicidal: poll

JHRS — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 02:04:37 GMT

Tormented by the difficulty of landing a position and unfair practices by prospective employers, 1 in 5 college students contemplate suicide during the job-hunting process, a poll of 122 students conducted in July by the nonprofit group Lifelink found.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Firms hiring more foreign students

JHRS — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 09:00:24 GMT

The survey, released last week by Disco Inc., a Tokyo-based recruitment consulting firm, shows that 35.2 percent of 539 firms across the country said they have hired or plan to hire foreign students in the 2013 business year after they graduate, but the figure increases to 48.4 percent when it comes to their plans for 2014.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese Supreme Court upholds non-disclosure of companies whose employees died of overwork

JHRS — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 01:39:51 GMT

The Osaka High Court overturned an earlier decision of the Osaka District Court concerning the identification of companies whose employees died of overwork. The decision was upheld on Tuesday by the Japanese Supreme Court following appeal from civic groups to have the companies named.

Source: http://japandailypress.com/

Japan faces shortfall of digital marketing professionals

JHRS — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 05:32:25 GMT

TOKYO —The rapid evolution of digital marketing has created a “digital disconnect” in which the jobs market in technology, and more specifically digital marketing technology, is hungry for skilled workers in Japan.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Toshiba to halve global TV workers

JHRS — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 05:21:52 GMT

Toshiba Corp.will halve the number of workers in its television operations outside Japan to 3,000 as it outsources more production. As much as 70 percent of the company’s TV output will come from other manufacturers by business 2014, Toshiba said in a statement Monday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Young people starting to warm up to finding employment with NPOs

JHRS — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 05:19:02 GMT

An increasing number of young Japanese are seeking jobs with nonprofit organizations because they want to get involved in addressing social problems. While working for NPOs doesn’t always provide stable employment, they can be a rewarding place for young people eager to change society, NPO workers say.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Cafes, hotels offer conducive environment for ‘nomad workers’

JHRS — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 05:24:49 GMT

One of the fastest-growing segments in the corporate world now are those that actually don’t have offices or the so-called “nomad workers”. These are people who can work anytime and anywhere with their laptops and mobile devices. Cafes and hotels around Japan are trying to accommodate and adjust to this market by providing facilities that are conducive for their lifestyle.

Source: http://japandailypress.com/

80% of clerical jobs go to women in Osaka govts

JHRS — Sun, 22 Sep 2013 02:28:16 GMT

The success rate of women has soared after eliminating tests on general knowledge and switching to screening methods based on applications and essays. The results show that women are better than men at promoting themselves. But, officials of both the prefectural and municipal governments said: “Ideally there should be an equal ratio of men and women in the workplace and such a large imbalance was unexpected. We will study the test changes to clarify if the test was biased toward women.”

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Ex-employee sues manga publisher for wrongful termination

JHRS — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 02:47:27 GMT

A 28-year-old woman who was fired for allegedly pocketing prizes that were meant for readers is suing her former employer, Tokyo-based Akita Publishing Co., for 3.3 million yen (approx. $33,200) in compensation. The woman claims she was fired because she dared to point out that the manga company was lying about the prizes they were giving away.

Source: http://japandailypress.com/

Have online recommendations killed the need for references?

JHRS — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 03:40:46 GMT

Referees are still very relevant in today’s jobs market despite the explosion of social media and online recommendations. According to Jonathan Sampson, Regional Director of Hays in Japan, online recommendations are great for showing the skills you are best known for but they are not a substitute for the role references play.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Pay, job security influence moves between Japanese and foreign companies

JHRS — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 03:30:37 GMT

Remuneration is central when professionals in Japan move to a foreign firm, while workers largely seek job security when joining a Japanese company according to the Robert Walters Employee Insights Survey. The 2013 Survey examined worker sentiment on career progression and international opportunities in a rapidly globalising Japanese market.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Dispatch workers’ average pay rises

JHRS — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 03:43:03 GMT

The average hourly wage for dispatch workers rose to ¥1,351 last year from ¥1,290 in 2008, a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry survey showed Thursday. The survey found that the average wage per hour came to ¥1,495 for male workers and ¥1,236 for female employees as of Oct. 1.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan plans to lift economy by getting moms back to work

JHRS — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 03:37:29 GMT

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has an unprecedented plan to boost economic growth and shore up his country's shrinking labor force — help more women return to work.

Source: http://www.jsonline.com/

Japan’s job market in July hits best record in 5 years

JHRS — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:12:34 GMT

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare revealed Friday that employment in Japan hit its best record in July, while the unemployment rate has decreased. The country’s job market is showing signs of recovery as various industries sought employees and labour force.

Source: http://japandailypress.com/

Forum stresses career benefits of study abroad

JHRS — Wed, 28 Aug 2013 09:20:43 GMT

Japanese students should buck the stay-at-home trend and instead study overseas to gain skills to survive in an ever more globalized and competitive world, experts and former international students said at a recent forum on overseas study in Tokyo.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan firms still not convinced to hire more, brace for sales tax increase

JHRS — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 04:46:12 GMT

Most Japanese firms will probably not increase hiring in 2014, and more than one company out of six will feel that they have to take cost-cutting steps in anticipation of the planned sales tax increase, all adding up to a still unsure economic future for the world’s third-largest economy. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gained early praise for his aggressive fiscal stimulus to wake the economy out of the doldrums, but it will take a stronger and more astute approach to weather the worries about deregulation and Japan’s enormous public debt.

Source:http://japandailypress.com/

Survey: In corporate Japan, a sharp rise in consultations on mental disorders

JHRS — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 04:41:30 GMT

Major Japanese companies, with their reputation for making employees put in long hours under often stressful conditions, have a growing problem on their hands: the mental health of their workers.

Source: http://ajw.asahi.com/

ANA to begin hiring flight attendants as regular staff

JHRS — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 04:37:34 GMT

All Nippon Airways says it will begin hiring flight attendants as regular employees in fiscal 2014 as it is facing increased competition to recruit capable employees. The move comes as the airline has recently been boosting the number of cabin attendants in line with an increase in flights.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com

Japan plans to lift economy by getting new moms back to work

JHRS — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 04:32:38 GMT

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has an unprecedented plan to boost economic growth and shore up his country's shrinking labor force undefined help more women return to work.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/

Japan Says Deflation Is Ending; Upgrades View On Job Situation

JHRS — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 03:27:23 GMT

Deflation in Japan is coming to an end and the job situation is improving, according to the latest monthly report from Japan's Cabinet Office released on Thursday. The government kept its assessment of the overall economy unchanged, saying that the economy is picking up steadily and is showing some movements towards recovery.

Source: http://www.rttnews.com/

Summer bonuses up by 4.99% among major companies

JHRS — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 05:02:00 GMT

The survey of 240 major companies showed that the average summer bonus is 809,502 yen, the Nikkei Shimbun reported. The last time bonuses increased by this much was just before the bubble economy burst in 1991.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japanese companies using ‘banishment rooms’ to push employees to resign

JHRS — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 04:51:19 GMT

While business circles are trying to make it smoother and easier for companies to let go of employees (with full benefits of course) they feel lack initiative and drive and are not a good fit, it’s having a reverse effect on employers. Those who want to fire certain workers but cannot bring themselves to do so are using “banishment rooms” to indirectly force them to resign on their own.

Source: http://japandailypress.com/

1 in 5 university grads without secure jobs

JHRS — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 04:48:02 GMT

A preliminary report by the education ministry shows that roughly 1 in 5 of the country’s university graduates this spring were either jobless or without secure employment.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan workers told to go home and procreate

JHRS — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 04:00:56 GMT

Japan's workers are being urged to switch off their laptops, go home early and use what little energy they have left on procreation, in the country's latest attempt to avert demographic disaster.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com

More Jobs for Japan, But What About More Pay?

JHRS — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 04:36:32 GMT

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pro-growth administration has earned itself another gold star: the lowest unemployment rate in nearly five years. Yet economists say the real measure of Mr. Abe’s success will depend more on whether an improvement in the jobs market will translate into higher wages and the greater spending needed to help put the world’s third-largest economy on the path towards long-term expansion.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/

Japan's jobless rate reaches five years' low in June

JHRS — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 04:23:03 GMT

Japan's unemployment rate fell below 4.0 percent for first time since October 2008 to 3.9 percent in June from the previous month, according to the Japanese government Tuesday.

Source: http://www.globaltimes.cn

Addressing the Problems with Japan’s Peculiar Employment System

JHRS — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 03:54:11 GMT

Japanese companies have cut back sharply on their recruitment of regular employees to be permanent members of their organizations, forcing many people to rely on nonregular employment. An expert on labor policy calls for the introduction of a job-based system of regular employment, distinct from the existing membership-based system, which is seen only in Japan.

Source: http://www.nippon.com/

OECD urges Japan to raise female employment

JHRS — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 03:53:46 GMT

Japan should work to increase employment opportunities for women as it’s working-age population dwindles, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reiterated.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Number of nonregular workers hits record high

JHRS — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 03:35:50 GMT

Nonregular workers made up a record-high 38.2 percent of the workforce last year, topping the 20 million mark for the first time, a government survey has revealed.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

As Japan PM Abe weighs labour reform, IBM emerges as test case

JHRS — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 03:32:11 GMT

When 27-year IBM veteran Martin Jetter came to Tokyo last year, the new president of the technology giant's Japanese arm had a radical idea: hold workers accountable for performance.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/

40% of workers see summer bonus grow

JHRS — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 03:54:13 GMT

A private-sector survey of workers showed that 39.6 percent of respondents saw their summer bonuses this year increase from the previous year's levels. The result of the survey, unveiled Wednesday, apparently reflects somewhat a recovery in corporate earnings thanks to the effects of Abenomics, the economic policy of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Firms send new hires out to gain street smarts

JHRS — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 03:47:46 GMT

An increasing number of Japanese companies are introducing practical experience-based training programs for new employees to boost their confidence.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Opposition slams ruling bloc on jobs deregulation

JHRS — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 06:39:10 GMT

Major party leaders held their first online debate Friday ahead of the July 21 Upper House election, with opposition chiefs voicing concern that ruling bloc-proposed employment deregulation may further worsen the working conditions of younger generations.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Record number of workers get compensation for mental illness

JHRS — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 06:43:07 GMT

The number of workers eligible to receive workers’ compensation for mental illnesses in fiscal 2012 hit a record high of 475, the third consecutive year a new high has been reached, the health ministry recently announced.

Source: http://the-japan-news.com/

Japan jobless rate steady at 4.1 percent in May

JHRS — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 06:00:10 GMT

Japan's jobless rate was steady in May and the availability of jobs improved to the highest level in about five years, underscoring the view that the economy is steadily recovering.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/

Only 11% of managerial jobs held by women

JHRS — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 04:09:18 GMT

Women in the workforce in Japan hold only 11% of managerial positions, according to the 2013 government white paper on gender equality, released by the Cabinet Office.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Nippon Life Insurance to provide childcare leave to all male employees

JHRS — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 04:06:08 GMT

Nippon Life Insurance Co announced this week that starting from this year, the company will guarantee one week of paid childcare leave to all male employees. By giving new fathers a week off, the company said it hopes to encourage male participation in childcare, Tokyo Shimbun reports.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan: land of the recruiting giants

JHRS — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:50:29 GMT

According to the 2013 annual report from Ciett, the international confederation of private employment agencies, in 2011 Japan had the second-highest number of private employment agencies in any one country at 20,000, behind China’s 56,000, and accounted for 17% of total global industry sales, second only to the US’s 23%.

Source: http://www.recruiter.co.uk/

Tepco minutes reveal staff exodus concerns

JHRS — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:57:08 GMT

Tokyo Electric Power Co. executives spent dozens of meetings fretting about the utility’s future as hundreds of younger employees quit over salary cuts after the Fukushima No. 1 reactor meltdowns, according to minutes obtained by Bloomberg News.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Motivating workers to earn licenses reaps rewards

JHRS — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:00:57 GMT

To survive the prolonged recession, a growing number of companies have adopted systems to encourage employees to attain professional or specialist qualifications, hoping the investment will motivate them and that the new found expertise will help develop new products or business expansion.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Toyota to spare workers with young kids from night shifts

JHRS — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 03:32:34 GMT

Toyota Motor Corp. is planning to exempt factory workers with preschool-age children from working night shifts to support child care starting in September, sources said.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Becoming Cheaper Place to Send Workers

JHRS — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 03:27:50 GMT

“It’s now cheaper, relatively, to employ staff in Japan and send staff there,” says Lee Quane, ECA’s Asia regional director, adding that he expects more banking and finance companies to be encouraged to add workers to the region. He also notes that it’s becoming more expensive for Japanese companies to send employees to certain locations overseas, as they now have to offer higher cost-of-living allowances.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/

Temple University Japan, Sophia University to hold joint career fair in English

JHRS — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 01:59:28 GMT

Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) and Sophia University will jointly hold an English-only career fair titled “Tokyo English Career Fair” on Wednesday June 19 at Sophia University.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan could add hundreds of billions to its GDP with more women in the workforce

JHRS — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 01:50:40 GMT

This month, prime minister Shinzo Abe will begin unveiling Japan’s “national growth strategy,” the structural reforms from the “third arrow” of Abenomics. This will include a crucial one: boosting female employment. Already, Abe has called on corporations to have at least one female executive per company (paywall). The government also plans to open 250,000 daycares over the next few years.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/

April job availability best since July 2008

JHRS — Fri, 31 May 2013 04:20:08 GMT

Job availability improved in April to its best level in four years and nine months, as some companies became willing to hire more workers in expectation of an economic recovery, helping to keep the unemployment rate relatively low at 4.1 percent, the government said Friday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Panasonic to cut 5,000 jobs over three years

JHRS — Fri, 31 May 2013 03:06:55 GMT

Struggling Japanese electronics giant Panasonic said Thursday it was aiming to cut about 5,000 jobs over three years in its automotive and industrial systems unit, following an eye-watering annual loss.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Top companies using banishment rooms to show employees the door

JHRS — Thu, 30 May 2013 03:41:26 GMT

With Japan's lifetime employment system in tatters, business circles are pushing to make it easier for companies to fire employees on full benefits who they view as lacking initiative and drive.

Source: http://ajw.asahi.com

Gov't to ease immigration process for foreign professionals

JHRS — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:47:19 GMT

Under an automated system called “Trusted Traveler,” foreign business travelers who have been confirmed not to have any links to crime, would go through immigration much faster at unmanned automated gates, the Nikkei said. This system would be especially used by regular visitors to Japan, who have already had their fingerprints and passport data recorded.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Employment rate of Japanese college graduates rise

JHRS — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:25:29 GMT

The employment rate for those who graduated from colleges in Japan in March rose for the second straight year to 93.9 percent as of April 1, up 0.3 percentage points from a year earlier, according to government data released Friday.

Source: http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/

IBM Japan tops survey on companies with active female employment

JHRS — Mon, 13 May 2013 01:59:10 GMT

According to a survey on “Companies with Active Female Employment,” conducted by Nikkei WOMAN, IBM Japan ranked No. 1 again for the third year in a row. Shiseido ranked No. 2, followed by Daiichi-Seimei at No. 3 and Novartis Pharma KK.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Sharp reportedly axes 5,000 employees, shifts focus to smartphone displays

JHRS — Fri, 10 May 2013 01:43:53 GMT

Sharp will reportedly be laying off 5,000 employees as part of a three-year recovery plan to turn the company around. According to The Asahi Shimbun, the number of directors and advisory positions will be cut in half, and the number of employees at Sharp’s main office in Osaka, Japan will be reduced by 50%. Additional layoffs are also expected in China and Malaysia. In an effort to increase profits, the company will be revising its focus to producing smartphone displays, large-sized HDTV sets and 4K TVs. Sharp will reportedly announce its three-year recovery plan next Tuesday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

Yahoo! Japan to offer employees one-year sabbaticals

JHRS — Thu, 02 May 2013 04:09:00 GMT

Yahoo! Japan President Manabu Miyasaka announced at a recent press conference that the company would introduce a new system by the end of the current fiscal year which allows employees to take up to one year off from their jobs. The system, which is based on the concept of sabbaticals, allows employees to spend up to one year freely pursing whatever they desire, albeit without pay. Though fairly common in the West, offering such a system of leave is very rare for a Japanese company.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan's jobless rate drops

JHRS — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:03:40 GMT

Japan's unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percent to 4.1 percent in March from 4.3 percent in February, said Japan's internal affairs ministry Tuesday in a preliminary report.

Source: http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/

Japan manufacturing, hiring rise in March

JHRS — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:01:39 GMT

Japan manufacturing and employment showed slight improvements in March, buttressing hopes that the economy may be headed for a moderate recovery.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

Japan To Increase Foreign Workers: Official

JHRS — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 03:43:07 GMT

The Japanese government is considering increasing the number of foreign engineers and researchers into the country to 100,000, Japan's JIJI Press reported, quoting Senior Vice Minister at the Cabinet Office, Yasutoshi Nishimura, as saying Monday.

Source: http://www.bernama.com

UNIQLO introduces equal pay system across its stores worldwide

JHRS — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:56:11 GMT

Tadashi Yanai, chairman and director of Fast Retailing and the main force behind the expansion of Japanese clothes retailer UNIQLO, has recently made public his intentions to introduce a worldwide universal wage system for shop managers and high ranking employees.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Gov't plans to increase number of foreign English teachers to 10,000

JHRS — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:00:23 GMT

An advisory panel to the Education Ministry has recommended to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that Japan increases the number of foreign English teachers at schools to 10,000 from the current 4,360 by reviving the JET program.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Firms vexed on older workers

JHRS — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 03:37:34 GMT

According to the survey on the revised Law for the Stabilization of Employment of Elderly People, which was put into force this month, many companies have taken measures to reduce labour costs, such as making large cuts in salaries of employees aged between 60 and 65 compared with those approaching retirement. Some companies have started to curb new hires and cut salaries of employees aged under 60.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com/

Japan’s Abe: Too few women in boardrooms

JHRS — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:01:26 GMT

The request was polite and the scale was hardly European in ambition, but Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe moved Friday to compel corporate Japan to promote more women to executive roles, asking business leaders to set a target of at least one female executive per company.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/

Japan Steel Works Falls as Employees Take Time Off: Tokyo Mover

JHRS — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:11:31 GMT

About 500 workers, or 70 percent of the total workforce at the Muroran plant on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, have accepted a proposal by the company to take about two days off a month for the six months starting mid April, spokesman Akito Aiuchi said today by telephone, confirming the Nikkei newspaper’s report on April 13.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/

Companies in Japan monitor workers via smartphone

JHRS — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:00:02 GMT

In January the Tokyo-based company provided smartphones to all of its 20 employees who regularly visit customers. As each smartphone is installed with an app that transmits its location to a specified terminal using the Global Positioning System, the company can easily find out where each employee is at any given time, often down to the names of buildings.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com/

Kirin implements ‘work at home’ system

JHRS — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 04:45:01 GMT

According to a report in the Nikkan Kogyo paper, employees who have worked more than three years will be eligible to work from home once a week, four times a month. The work period at home will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (including one-hour break). Employees report when they start and finish to their boss via email or phone.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Toshiba to hire 100 female executives

JHRS — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:43:33 GMT

Japanese electronics giant Toshiba said it would hire 100 female managers within the next two years in an effort to diversify their executive ranks.

Source: http://www.upi.com/

840,000 new recruits in Japan mark 1st day at work

JHRS — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 03:26:33 GMT

An estimated 840,000 new recruits nationwide marked their first day of work Monday at the start of Japan's new fiscal year, after surviving a difficult job-hunting season amid severe economic conditions.

Source: http://newsonjapan.com/

Japan jobless rate up, prices, manufacturing fall

JHRS — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:40:27 GMT

TOKYO (AP) - Japan's jobless rate edged higher and industrial production fell slightly in February as consumer prices also fell, underscoring the fragility of the recovery of the world's third-largest economy.

Source:http://news.yahoo.com/

Firms preparing for continued employment of elderly staff

JHRS — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 03:21:50 GMT

Companies are gearing up for the implementation next month of a law that will oblige them to continue employing all workers who wish to stay on until age 65.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Companies demanding strategic experience in Japan's selective job market

JHRS — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:16:26 GMT

Companies in Japan are hiring back-office professionals with strategic skill sets despite a rise in offshoring activity according to the recently released 2013 Salary Survey by Robert Walters.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Livesense May Raise Fees as Japanese Job Market Improves

JHRS — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:13:47 GMT

“The number of job openings is increasing, as money is starting to circulate” in the world’s third-largest economy, Taichi Murakami, Livesense’s president and founder, said in an interview in Tokyo. Japan’s jobless rate dropped to 4.2 percent in January from 4.3 percent in December in an indication that newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s drive to boost the economy with anti-deflation policies may be paying off.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/

Japanese universities support women in the workforce

JHRS — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:11:37 GMT

Universities such as Kwansei Gakuin University and Japan Women’s University have launched an open lecture project for women who want to go back to work after getting married or having children, Nihon Jinjibu reports.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan auto giants to give workers a bonus boost

JHRS — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:52:06 GMT

Japan's top automakers are set to give tens of thousands of employees an annual bonus bump as a weaker yen helped their bottom line while Tokyo presses firms to hike staff pay to lift the economy.

Source: http://nz.sports.yahoo.com

Hays: Social Media - Everybody's doing it, but are they missing something?

JHRS — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:53:13 GMT

We all accept that social media is a great way of identifying talent, connecting with it and promoting the values of your business. Get your strategy right and the rewards are great. But get it wrong and the damage to an employer's brand can be significant, according to recruiting experts Hays.

Source: http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/

Seven & i Holdings to increase monthly pay

JHRS — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 07:16:45 GMT

TOKYO- Seven & i Holdings said Monday that it will increase monthly salaries at its group companies by 5,229 yen from April. The companies include Ito-Yokado stores and 7-Eleven convenience stores.The pay rise will be the first since 2009. It comes in response to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s call to the private sector to raise wages in order to stop the deflationary trend in the economy.

Source:http://www.japantoday.com/

Fujitsu to hire 500 graduates in 2014

JHRS — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 07:18:46 GMT

Fujitsu has announced plans to hire 500 university graduates in April 2014. Although the number of new hires will decrease compared to this year due to the severe business environment, Fujitsu said it will continue to recruit a diverse group of university graduates to enhance its global business for positions in R&D, system engineering, sales, administration and other divisions throughout the company to sustain growth in its ICT solutions, services, and products businesses.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com/

Japan's deflation persists, business spending down, though job situation improves

JHRS — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:12:42 GMT

Japan said Friday that its chronic deflation persisted in January, with consumer prices falling 0.2 per cent from a year earlier, though the employment situation showed a modest improvement.

Source: http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/

Japan's jobless rate down, prices fall

JHRS — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:06:57 GMT

Japan's unemployment rate edged down to 4.2 per cent in January while the struggling economy remains mired in deflation. The jobless rate slipped to 4.2 per cent from a revised 4.3 percent in December, data from the internal affairs ministry showed on Friday. The figure was in line with economists' expectations.

Source: http://wap.news.bigpond.com/

Hays: HR Focus Shifts to Talent Management

JHRS — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 06:27:01 GMT

Tokyo, Feb 26, 2013 - (ACN Newswire) - HR has had to shift its priorities back to commercial matters as more businesses focus on cost savings yet talent management remains one of the biggest challenges facing businesses in Japan, according to recruiting experts Hays.

Source: http://www.acnnewswire.com/

Nissan Promoting More Women Opens Doors to Japan Sales

JHRS — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 04:19:15 GMT

Nissan leads Japan’s car manufacturers in the number of women in executive jobs. Women account for 6.7 percent of managers at the company, Japan’s No. 2 automaker.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/

Japan’s gender gap widens despite need for more workers

JHRS — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 04:20:25 GMT

Despite anti-discrimination laws and a steadily growing number of employed women, Japan is falling behind the rest of the world on gender equality. Widespread discrimination persists and has only grown more subtle over the past years.

Source:http://realchangenews.org/

Hays Asia Salary Guide: Do you have what employers want? Check your cross-cultural expertise score

JHRS — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 04:24:25 GMT

Tokyo, Feb 20, 2013 - (ACN Newswire) - More and more businesses in Japan are looking for bilingual candidates with an international mindset as the job market becomes more globalised, according to the 2013 Hays Asia Salary Guide [ http://hays.co.jp/en/salary-guide/index.htm ].

Source: http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/

Japanese labour unions feel pain of new era

JHRS — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 04:17:15 GMT

Labour union demands for wage increases were boldly submitted. To underline their steely determination, workers walked off the job in the spring. Trains were halted, leaving millions of commuters stranded and angry. The world watched to see how many days or weeks it would take Japanese business leaders to fold and to agree to wage hikes large enough to satisfy the labour union negotiators.

Source: http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/

Hays Survey Highlights Impact of the Skills Shortage

JHRS — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:33:41 GMT

The overwhelming majority of employers are concerned about the impact of skills shortages on their business operations and about half say it will definitely affect them, according to the 2013 Hays Asia Salary Guide.

Source: http://au.finance.yahoo.com/

Focus on Performance-related Pay: 2013 Hays Asia Salary Guide

JHRS — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 03:50:50 GMT

Tokyo, Feb 6, 2013 - (ACN Newswire) - About half of the employers in Japan gave a salary increase of less than 3 per cent last year and candidates can expect more of the same this year, according to the Hays Asia Salary Guide.

Source: http://au.finance.yahoo.com/

Japan manufacturing jobs lowest in five decades

JHRS — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 07:35:18 GMT

Employment in Japan's once-mighty manufacturing sector has fallen below 10 million for the first time in five decades, as a new government vows to stoke the struggling economy.

Source:http://my.news.yahoo.com/

Japan's jobless rate rises to 4.2% in December

JHRS — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 03:01:22 GMT

Japan's jobless rate stood at 4.2 percent in December, edging up from 4.1 percent in the previous month, the government said on Friday. For the entire 2012 period, the unemployment rate fell 0.3 percent on-year to 4.3 percent, marking two straight years of improvement, according to the internal affairs ministry.

Source: http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/

Hays Quarterly Report: Demand for Language Skills Resilient Across Japan's Job Market

JHRS — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:57:55 GMT

According to Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays"), demand for language skills remains strong across employers in Japan - particularly for Japanese nationals with English and native English speakers with Japanese. At the same time on the candidate side, Hays is seeing increased applications from overseas - especially Europe - as experienced mid-career professionals explore opportunities outside of often struggling home markets.

Source: http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/

Japan's police rush to take early retirement before pay cut

JHRS — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 03:44:36 GMT

About 230 police officers and personnel in Aichi and Hyogo prefectures are seeking to retire early, as they could receive an average 1.4 million yen to 1.5 million yen more than they would after ordinances expected to be revised this fiscal year take effect.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com/

Japanese gov't to beef up youth employment

JHRS — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 03:37:51 GMT

Aiming to help young people known as NEETs (not in education, employment or training) find jobs, and help young people in temporary positions become regular employees, the ministry will increase the number of local youth support stations by about 40 per cent.

Source: http://www.asianewsnet.net/

Japan's Renesas to Cut Additional 3,000 Jobs

JHRS — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 03:17:27 GMT

Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics said on Thursday it plans to cut an additional 3,000 to 4,000 jobs in September as it slims down management and its design operations.

Source: http://www.cnbc.com

Robert Walters Expands Contract Recruitment Services to Kansai

JHRS — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:23:21 GMT

Robert Walters PLC, the award-winning global specialist recruitment consultancy, recently expanded its specialist contract recruitment service nationwide to businesses in Osaka and the Kansai region. The Group's Osaka contracting team leverages one of Japan's most extensive databases of qualified professionals and offers temporary (haken), temp-to-perm (shokai yotei haken) and fixed-term (keiyaku) contract recruitment, in addition to its established permanent recruitment services.

Source: http://au.finance.yahoo.com/

Morgan McKinley Japan Releases Industry Hiring Survey

JHRS — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 03:28:17 GMT

Morgan McKinley has today released its annual hiring market reports covering five key industry sectors across Japan. The reports based on a survey of over 300 professionals provide market intelligence and forecasts for 2013 into hiring and employment trends across financial services; professional services; healthcare; IT and luxury, fashion & retail.

Source: http://www.prnewswire.co.uk

Japan's Softbank employees get paid to master English

JHRS — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 13:47:45 GMT

TOKYO - Japanese mobile carrier Softbank, which made headlines over a US$20 billion (S$25 billion) takeover of US-based Sprint Nextel, is offering employees an incentive to master English - one million yen.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com/

Employers Not Doing Enough to Hire and Retain Mature-aged Workers: Hays Survey

JHRS — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:21:28 GMT

Tokyo, Jan 10, 2013 - (ACN Newswire) - More than half of Japanese businesses have no plans to retain their mature-aged staff and about half say they place age restrictions on new hires, according to a survey by recruiting experts Hays.

Source: http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/

Japan Mulling BOJ Accord Linked to Employment, Mainichi Says

JHRS — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:41:18 GMT

The Japanese government and the Bank of Japan (8301) are discussing a policy accord aimed at achieving stable employment conditions, the Mainichi newspaper reported.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/

Japan Unemployment Dips To 4.1% In November

JHRS — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 03:51:08 GMT

The unemployment rate in Japan was a seasonally adjusted 4.1 percent in November, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday.

Source: http://www.rttnews.com/

Research and Markets: Employment Services in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:25:01 GMT

Employment Services in Japan industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market size (value 2007-11, and forecast to 2016). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the market. Essential resource for top-line data and analysis covering the Japan employment services market. Includes market size data, textual and graphical analysis of market growth trends, leading companies and macroeconomic information.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/

Quarter of workers in Japan experience 'power harassment'

JHRS — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 06:12:27 GMT

In the past three years, 1 in 4 workers in Japan experienced "power harassment," a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry survey revealed Wednesday, suggesting workplaces with employee of unequal status and management-labor communications shortcomings may be aggravating the problem.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Hays Japan Talent Trends for 2013: Outbound Growth Reshaping Talent Management

JHRS — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 06:08:24 GMT

According to Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays"), Japan's continuing push for outbound economic growth is fueling changes in the way businesses source and manage talent, and this is expected to continue well into 2013 and beyond.

Source: http://au.finance.yahoo.com/

Japan Oct overtime pay falls 2.3 pct yr/yr

JHRS — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 02:25:45 GMT

TOKYO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Japanese wage earners' overtime pay fell in October from a year earlier at the fastest pace since the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster, government data showed on Tuesday, in a worrying sign that lower wages could hurt consumption.

Source: http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/

Hays Survey: More Than 2/3 of Businesses in Japan Compliant with New Disability Employment Laws

JHRS — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 07:50:36 GMT

According to a survey by Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays"), more than two thirds of businesses in Japan employ staff with disabilities, and recruiters expect this figure to rise in the wake of a new government policy.

Source: http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/

Japan Unemployment Rate 4.2% In October

JHRS — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 02:31:08 GMT

The unemployment rate in Japan was a seasonally adjusted 4.2 percent in October, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday - in line with expectations and unchanged from the previous month.

Source: http://www.rttnews.com/

Strong Talent Mismatch Intensifies Skills Shortage: Hays Global Skills Index

JHRS — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 04:13:01 GMT

Japan's economy faces an improving macroeconomic environment, but a lack of openness to immigration, combined with a strong talent mismatch means that employers may face an increasingly difficult time filling posts.

Source:http://au.finance.yahoo.com/

Hays: Japan Executives Value Personal Assistants with Professionalism, Responsiveness, and Adaptability

JHRS — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 02:18:19 GMT

Tokyo, Nov 22, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - Professional attitude, speedy response, and adaptability are the top three traits executives in Japan seek in assistants, according to Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays").

Source: http://au.finance.yahoo.com

2,960 workers at Sharp sign up for voluntary retirement

JHRS — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 02:59:33 GMT

Sharp Corp. says 2,960 workers at its offices in Japan have applied for a voluntary retirement program set up as part of its efforts to turn around its slumping business, far exceeding the 2,000 it initially targeted.

Source:www.japantimes.co.jp/

Discrimination of working mothers persists in Japan

JHRS — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 03:45:54 GMT

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's government set a goal in July to boost the proportion of working women within eight years to spur an economy that has had two recessions since 2007. Increasing the number of employed women might bolster gross domestic product by as much as 15%, according to Goldman Sachs.

Source: http://www.denverpost.com

Panasonic prepares for "garage sale", to axe 10,000 jobs

JHRS — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:02:22 GMT

KADOMA, Japan (Reuters) - About a fifth of Panasonic Corp's <6758.T> 88 business units are losing money and only half so far meet a target for at least 5 percent operating margin, the Japanese electronics group's finance chief said in an interview on Wednesday.

Soucre: http://news.yahoo.com/

Hays Quarterly Report: Japan's Supply Chain Sector Sees Jobs Growth, Strong Hiring Trend

JHRS — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 09:06:48 GMT

Businesses with supply chain needs in Japan are looking for professionals with strategic sourcing and international experience, as they focus on cost cutting through operational efficiency improvements. This is fuelling jobs growth and hiring market-wide.

Source: http://au.finance.yahoo.com/

Yahoo Japan workers to have Friday off if national holiday falls on weekend

JHRS — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 04:48:04 GMT

All Yahoo Japan Corp. employees will be given the privilege of taking Friday off if a national holiday falls on a Saturday, a new system seen as extremely rare among big firms, it said Thursday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan Sept wages steady, overtime pay dips for 1st time in 13mths

JHRS — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:05:00 GMT

Japanese wage earners' total cash earnings was unchanged in September from a year earlier, while overtime pay slipped for the first time in 13 months, government data showed on Wednesday, suggesting incomes remain under severe pressure.

Source: http://uk.finance.yahoo.com

UBS Said to Cut 30 Japan Fixed-Income Jobs on Global Revamp

JHRS — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 04:52:07 GMT

UBS AG (UBSN) is eliminating about 30 fixed-income jobs in Japan, two people with knowledge of the matter said, as Switzerland’s biggest lender implements plans to shrink investment banking operations worldwide.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/

More firms add autumn initiation for non-April hires

JHRS — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 04:56:42 GMT

In Japan, initiation ceremonies for new employees are traditionally held in April, the start of the fiscal and school years, when freshly minted graduates hired through the mainstream recruitment process begin their new jobs.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Toyota retirees to get option of 'half-time' working hours

JHRS — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 02:55:18 GMT

Toyota Motor Corp. will offer retired employees who want to stay on the option of working half the number of hours of regular workers at some plants from April, according to sources.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com/

Sony announces 2,000 more layoffs

JHRS — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 02:21:18 GMT

Working at Sony (SNE) can’t be very much fun at the moment, as the company on Friday announced another round of layoffs that will reduce its workforce by 2,000 employees by the end of the year. Sony said that roughly half of the layoffs are “expected to be in support functions, including the headquarters of Sony” in Japan. Sony first announced plans to cut its workforce by 10,000 this past spring, and over the summer the company cut 1,000 workers from its mobile division.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

Citigroup Said to Hire Seven Bankers in Japan on M&A Outlook

JHRS — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 07:00:14 GMT

Citigroup Inc. (C) is hiring seven bankers in Japan in anticipation that more companies will make cross-border acquisitions and restructure, two people with knowledge of the situation said.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com

Hays Quarterly Report: Japan Job Seekers Looking for Career Advancement

JHRS — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 06:56:38 GMT

Job seekers in Japan remain cautious, and seek opportunities to rapidly advance when considering a job change, according to Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays").

Source: http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/

SumTotal Appoints New General Manager of Japan

JHRS — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 02:57:43 GMT

SumTotal® Systems, Inc., the global leader in Strategic Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, today announced the appointment of Masanobu Hirano as the new General Manager of Japan, underscoring the company’s commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. Hirano will oversee all aspects of operations in Japan, including sales, professional services and customer support.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/

Hays: Attitudes Towards Contract and Temporary Employees Changing in Japan

JHRS — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 03:19:24 GMT

With increasing reliance on these roles and related regulatory changes having come into effect 1 October, employers find that they must more and more cultivate contract and temporary employees in Japan, says Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays").

Source: http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/

Sharp plans to eliminate 11,000 jobs, raise $2.74 billion by selling assets

JHRS — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 02:56:16 GMT

Sharp (SHCAY) plans to lay off 11,000 employees and generate $2.74 billion by selling off various assets, according to a leaked memo obtained by Japanese news organization Kyodo News.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

Japan's Recruit to Acquire Leading Job Site Indeed.com

JHRS — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 03:03:07 GMT

Austin-based jobs website Indeed.com has announced today that it is to be acquired by Japan’s largest HR and classified media group, Recruit co.Ltd.

Source: http://my.news.yahoo.com/

Hays survey: 84% of Japanese returnees say their international experience gives them an edge in Japan's job market

JHRS — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 02:59:11 GMT

Tokyo, Sept 25, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - The vast majority of Japanese returning after time abroad say they have an advantage in seeking work in Japan, due in part to the global mindset and foreign language skills acquired overseas, according to a recent survey by Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays Japan").

Source: http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/

Japan's Sharp Corp. slashes employee pay

JHRS — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:21:24 GMT

Japan's Sharp Corp. on Tuesday said it would slash salaries for thousands of employees -- from the factory floor to the executive boardroom -- as it scrambles to repair its bleeding balance sheet.

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/

Japan Cost-Cutting Leaves Compensation Nearing Crisis Low

JHRS — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 02:48:28 GMT

Cost-cutting by Japanese companies is dragging on wages, resulting in weaker consumer demand and a stronger case for monetary easing to counter deflation.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/

Daio Paper to slash 1,000 jobs, not 900

JHRS — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 02:21:16 GMT

Daio Paper Corp. on Friday tweaked its cost-cutting plan higher to about 1,000 jobs over a three-year period through fiscal 2014 ending in March 2015. It had been planning to cut about 900 jobs.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Hiring Slowdown in New Fiscal Year - Robert Walters Japan

JHRS — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 02:25:13 GMT

The traditionally slow hiring season in Japan's second quarter resulted in stable job advertisement volumes, increasing by 0.6% over the previous quarter. In contrast, advertising volumes in Asia grew by 11.8% during the same time period. According to the Asia Job Index, much of the hiring was completed prior to the fiscal year-end as companies attempted to fill headcount and spend their remaining yearly budgets. Also, many companies focused on integrating new hires in April following the traditional joining season in Japan. As a result, Q2 advertising slowed following the hiring peak in March.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net/

Japan Unemployment Rate Steady In July

JHRS — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 02:27:48 GMT

The unemployment rate in Japan came in at a seasonally adjusted 4.3 percent in July, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday - in line with expectations and unchanged from the previous month.

Source: http://www.rttnews.com/

Sharp to Cut 2,000 Jobs in Japan, 6 Percent of Local Workforce

JHRS — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 02:42:37 GMT

Troubled Japanese LCD and TV panel maker Sharp said Tuesday it will cut 2,000 jobs domestically, or about 6 percent of its local workforce, as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts.

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/

Hays in Osaka Sees Continued Growth

JHRS — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 02:19:04 GMT

Hays's Osaka office, which has been operating for five years, is seeing high demand in the IT, Sales & Marketing, Life Science, Human Resources, Accountancy & Finance, Office Professionals, Legal, Supply Chain, Manufacturing & Operation and Property sectors, according to Japan-based Hays Operations Director for Asia, Christine Wright. Hays' Osaka office also covers the Western Japan region, from Aichi-Gifu-Toyama prefectures to Okinawa and the industry sectors in these areas.

Source: http://au.finance.yahoo.com/

Nomura may reportedly cut hundreds of jobs

JHRS — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 02:56:01 GMT

Nomura Holdings is making plans to cut hundreds of jobs, most in the equities and investment banking divisions, Reuters reports Sunday, citing people with knowledge of the planning.

Women Less Employable After Starting a Family

JHRS — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:00:02 GMT

Tokyo, Aug 21, 2012 - (JCN Newswire) - In a recent Employee Insights Survey of female professionals in Japan, 77% of respondents believe women are less employable if they decide to start a family. In contrast, only 3% feel women are more employable, while 20% believe starting a family does not affect a woman's chances of being re-hired. With more women in Japan possessing the business experience and specialised skill sets necessary for globalising companies, this perception will discourage female professionals from re-entering the workforce following childbirth.

Source: http://digitaljournal.com/

Getting a Global Mindset - Japan Employers Need to Think like the Employees They Want to Attract

JHRS — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 03:01:26 GMT

Tokyo, Aug 13, 2012 - (JCN Newswire) - If employers want to recruit candidates with a global mindset in a bid to keep up with the global marketplace they need to think that way themselves, according to Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays Japan").

Source: http://www.japancorp.net/

Japan: New Reporting Requirements for Stock-Based Compensation Offered by Foreign Employers: Nair & Co.

JHRS — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 03:08:14 GMT

Japan tax authorities recently announced new reporting requirements for foreign stock-based compensation received by resident employees and directors of certain entities in Japan.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/

Hays Japan Survey Shows 62% of Active Job Seekers Change Their Social Media Habits

JHRS — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 03:24:57 GMT

According to a recent Japan survey by Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays"), 62% of those actively looking for a job in Japan alter their use of digital and interactive media, due to concerns that potential employers will judge them based on their online profile.

Source: http://au.finance.yahoo.com/

Doctors: Japan nuclear plant workers face stigma

JHRS — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 02:50:13 GMT

A growing number of Japanese workers who are risking their health to shut down the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant are suffering from depression, anxiety about the future and a loss of motivation, say two doctors who visit them regularly.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

Japan’s Lower House Passes Bill to Let Workers Stay on to 65

JHRS — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 02:55:03 GMT

Japan’s lower house of parliament approved legislation that would give private-sector workers the right to remain in their jobs until they are 65 years old rather than 60 as the nation struggles with welfare costs.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/

Japan's Sharp to cut 5,000 jobs by March

JHRS — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 03:00:32 GMT

Japan's Sharp said Thursday it will cut 5,000 jobs by March as it reported a quarterly loss and said it would remain in the red for the rest of the year amid losses at its struggling TV business.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

Japan's jobless rate falls

JHRS — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 02:25:49 GMT

Japan's unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 4.3 percent in June from 4.4 percent in May for the second straight month, according to data released by the ministry of internal affairs and communications Tuesday.

Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/

More elderly in Japan willing to work: report

JHRS — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 03:17:28 GMT

According to a Japanese Government White Paper on Elderly Society, more elderly in Japan want to work. And yet the employment rate for those in their 60s who are interested to work is less than 40 per cent. With the national deficit continuing to grow, the fact that more senior citizens are willing to work instead of relying on pensions must be good news.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/

Sharp to cut jobs; report net loss: Nikkei

JHRS — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 03:24:54 GMT

Japan's Sharp Corp is expected to report a group net loss of about 100 billion yen ($1.28 billion) for the April-June quarter as its LCD panel and solar panel businesses continue to decline, the Nikkei business daily said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

Flexibility key to landing jobs, says Google exec

JHRS — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 03:22:52 GMT

Surviving in today's world requires the ability to adjust to changing situations, including in the employment environment, because nobody can predict the future, Google Japan Inc.'s head of talent acquisition said Saturday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan's seniors find second working life abroad

JHRS — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 03:20:51 GMT

After a life of dedication to a corporate cause that in Japan means long hours and few holidays, retirement might be seen as a well deserved rest.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

Hays Quarterly Report: Spike in Demand for Skilled Temporary Workers in Japan

JHRS — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 03:10:52 GMT

"Demand has remained steady for skilled professionals in Japan, and there is a clear shortage. The current spike in demand for temporary workers can be seen as a compromise, as employers are increasingly desperate to fill open roles and can take on these candidates more quickly than for permanent equivalents. It is an indication of the resilience of demand, particularly for experienced multilingual candidates," says Japan-based Hays Operations Director, Asia, Christine Wright.

Source: http://au.finance.yahoo.com/

Employee strike will shut some Okinawa AAFES stores on Friday

JHRS — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 03:32:34 GMT

The Japanese labor union for U.S. Forces in Japan will go on a 24-hour strike Friday on Okinawa in a dispute over a new policy that forces Japanese hires to drop to part-time hours once they reach age 60.

Source: http://www.stripes.com/

Panasonic Restructuring Costs May Increase on Job Cuts

JHRS — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 04:33:20 GMT

Panasonic Corp., seeking to turn around after a record loss last year, said restructuring costs this year may exceed an initial estimate as the company takes charges to cut jobs and accounts for depreciation of factories.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com

Japan's Renesas eyes $550 mn savings, cutting 5,000 jobs

JHRS — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 08:07:16 GMT

Struggling Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics said Tuesday it is looking to save 43 billion yen ($550 million) annually, mostly by slashing at least 5,000 jobs.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

Japan's female bosses near last in Asia

JHRS — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 03:13:46 GMT

Companies in Asia's leading economies have "strikingly" few women in senior jobs, missing out on a vital pool of talent that can fuel the region's growth, with Japan ranking second from the bottom, consultancy McKinsey & Co. said Sunday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Free job training program draws meager turnout in Japan

JHRS — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 03:09:19 GMT

Only one-third of the number of people expected to use the government's free vocational training program have done so during the first six months since its launch, a situation the labor ministry attributes to a lack of publicity.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com/

As Sony struggles, many see cautionary tale for Japan

JHRS — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 03:05:09 GMT

When Sony announced some $6 billion in losses in May along with plans to cut 10,000 jobs, it wasn't taken here simply as evidence of an iconic electronic titan in trouble. To many Japanese, it symbolized a larger problem: a society clinging to outmoded ways and rigid seniority in a world where rewards increasingly go to the entrepreneurial.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

Increase in Telecommuting in Japan Raises Employee Satisfaction and Lowers Operating Costs, Says Hays

JHRS — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 02:56:16 GMT

Tokyo, June 25, 2012 - (JCN Newswire) - Global businesses and modern technology are fuelling an increase in telecommuting and remote working across Japan, leading to greater employee satisfaction and lower operating costs, says Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays").

Source: http://www.japancorp.net

Japan Inc's ritual hiring past sell-by date

JHRS — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 03:19:36 GMT

Each April, hundreds of new graduates report for work in Japan's corporate world, all on the same day, all dressed in standard business black, and all ready to be molded into staunch company loyalists.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/

60s-plus group just 36% of workforce

JHRS — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 09:16:30 GMT

The employment rate for those aged between 65 and 69 stood at 36.3 percent in 2011 and at 22.8 percent for those between 70 and 74, according to a 2012 white paper on Japan's aging society.

Source:http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Women Under-represented in Japan's Legal Profession, Says Hays

JHRS — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 09:24:51 GMT

Tokyo, June 13, 2012 - (JCN Newswire) - Women remain severely under-represented in Japan's legal industry, according to Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays Japan").

Source: http://www.japancorp.net/

JPMorgan Employee Said to be Linked to Insider Trading

JHRS — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 02:21:45 GMT

A JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) employee in Japan was found to have leaked insider information connected to Nippon Sheet Glass Co.'s 2010 share sale, according to two people with knowledge of the situation.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/

Hays Five Solutions to Promote Diversity in Japan's Workforce

JHRS — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 02:20:26 GMT

A disconnect exists between the perceptions of female employees and their employers with regards to diversity, according to a survey by Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays"). The survey of hiring managers and female candidates on the topic of diversity found that 70% of companies say they have a diversity program in place, yet 63% of female employees say their company is not taking steps to create a diverse workforce. In addition, for 67% of organisations, women account for less than 20% of management staff, yet 61% admit that improved gender equality could help fill the skills gap.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net/

Merit, not seniority, to pay at Japan Post :New regimen to widen wage gap, impact pension plan

JHRS — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 02:17:44 GMT

Japan Post Group plans to introduce performance-based pay while cutting seniority-based compensation, in a bid to improve employee morale, sources said.

Source:www.japantimes.co.jp

JPMorgan Employee Said to be Linked to Insider Trading

JHRS — Wed, 30 May 2012 02:40:10 GMT

A JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) employee in Japan was found to have leaked insider information connected to Nippon Sheet Glass Co.’s 2010 share sale, according to two people with knowledge of the situation.

Source:http://www.bloomberg.com/

Japan jobless rise stokes slowdown fear

JHRS — Tue, 29 May 2012 02:45:24 GMT

Japan’s jobless totaled 3.15 million in April, down 140,000 from last year, while those with jobs totaled 62.75 million, down 270,000 from the year-ago period.

Source: http://articles.marketwatch.com/

Hays Japan Diversity Survey Reveals Management-Female Employee Perception Disparity

JHRS — Mon, 28 May 2012 02:38:08 GMT

Tokyo, May 28, 2012 - (JCN Newswire) - 65% of female respondents to a recent survey by Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK ("Hays Japan") said that their management does not understand or they are unsure that they understand diversity, while 70% of hiring managers claimed that they have a diversity program in place.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net/

Japan city employees banned from drinking in public

JHRS — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:51:19 GMT

The mayor, Soichiro Takashima, imposed the monthlong ban on Monday, forbidding any city employee from drinking at restaurants, bars or even at the homes of friends or family members. If officials are required to attend functions where alcohol is being served, they are only permitted to drink soft drinks.

Soucre: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Japan chip maker Renesas to cut 6,000 jobs

JHRS — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:53:13 GMT

Japanese microchip maker Renesas Electronics will cut 6,000 jobs, or 15 percent of its workforce, a leading daily reported on Tuesday, as the nation's chip industry struggles on the world stage.

Source: http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/

Japan mayor fights to erase tattoos

JHRS — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:30:19 GMT

More than 100 employees at the Osaka city government may have to have their tattoos removed or search for another job following the local mayor's crackdown on tattoos.

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/

Toyota chief heading auto industry body promises to keep production in Japan

JHRS — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:38:04 GMT

TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda took the helm at Japan's auto industry group Thursday with a promise to keep production and jobs at home to help along the country's recovery from last year's tsunami disaster.

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/

Ministry to urge employers to hire more women

JHRS — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:31:38 GMT

The labor ministry will visit 21,000 companies across Japan by fiscal 2015 to urge them to employ more women and promote them to managerial posts, as part of measures to improve their employment conditions.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Cancer Survivors Face Workplace Discrimination In Japan: Report

JHRS — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:34:43 GMT

Japanese employers have discriminated heavily against cancer survivors, according to a survey by American Family Life Assurance Co. (Aflac) cited by the Japan Times. The survey found more than 10 percent of cancer patients in Japan had been dismissed from their jobs, and 30 percent said that their pay had decreased. Cancer patients do not receive the benefits and safeguards provided to other workers with disabilities in Japan.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Yahoo Japan: No effect from Yahoo Inc. CEO leaving

JHRS — Sun, 13 May 2012 04:22:43 GMT

Yahoo Japan Corp. said Monday that the resignation of Yahoo Inc.'s chief executive won't affect the Tokyo-based company's business or any possible negotiations over the U.S. namesake's plans to offload its Japanese stake.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com

Japan Post not boosting nonregulars

JHRS — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:14:16 GMT

Japan Post Holdings Co. has slashed the number of non-regular workers it converts to regular employees only 1,058 non-regular workers passed the necessary conversion exam in fiscal 2011, about one-eighth of the level seen in the previous year, they said.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japanese self-employment hit hardest by the Great Recession

JHRS — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:13:04 GMT

Many people have reported that the Great Recession took a toll on self-employment. That’s certainly true in the United States. As data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show, the number of Americans in business for themselves dropped by 622,000 between 2007 and 2009, a decline of 5.9 percent.

Source: http://www.forbes.com

UPDATE 1-Tepco, labor union agree to cut pension - Nikkei

JHRS — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:16:35 GMT

May 11 (Reuters) - Tokyo Electric Power Co Inc and its labor union agreed to reduce corporate pension fund payouts for current employees and save 106.5 billion yen ($1.33 billion) over 10 years, the Nikkei said.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/

Low salaries, long hours need to be improved to boost day care workers in Japan

JHRS — Sat, 05 May 2012 03:16:31 GMT

TOKYO _ Low salaries are one reason behind the difficulty in securing sufficient numbers of day care workers. According to the government's basic survey on wage structure in 2011, the average monthly salary for a private day care worker was only 220,000 yen ($2,754.46).

Source: http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/

Japanese businessman tries saving tsunami-damaged hometown with jobs, tourism and fish cakes

JHRS — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:58:13 GMT

Takahashi, who directs Takamasa & Co. Ltd., spoke to his father, his boss at the family company that employed 90. Each of our workers, Takahashi said, supports about three family members. If we can boost our employment to 200, they'll support 600. That totals 800 people, more than 10 percent of the town's remaining population. And so Takamasa expanded even as the local economy tanked. The company built a $17 million factory and showroom, a project planned before the tsunami. It rented its old quarters to competitors -- anything to boost employment.

Source: http://www.oregonlive.com

Japan's jobless rate

JHRS — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:29:51 GMT

The Japanese economy released its monthly data for jobless rate that remained unchanged at 4.5% in March compared with the prior reading and expectations of 4.5%.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com

Program creates more jobs in Japan's quake-hit areas

JHRS — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:31:35 GMT

For the unemployed in areas heavily damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake, a government program to create long-term employment opportunities shines out like a beacon of hope amid a severe job market.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com/

Renho calls for stricter monitoring of pension funds' hiring of ex-bureaucrats

JHRS — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:40:34 GMT

The former Cabinet minister made the comment in a recent interview after a welfare ministry survey revealed in late March that 721 retired bureaucrats had received jobs at the "kosei nenkin kikin" funds as of March 1. The former civil servants accounted for about 10 percent of all staff at the funds.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Japan charity offers to help in maritime skills training

JHRS — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 02:41:43 GMT

Now that Bangladesh has its sea boundary with Myanmar demarcated, Japan’s Nippon Foundation has offered to help the country protect its maritime interests through development of human resources in the field.

Source: http://www.gulf-times.com

Sony Planning to Lay Off 10,000 Workers

JHRS — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:18:59 GMT

The report notes that 10,000 workers make up approximately six percent of Sony's overall workforce. The report also cites a Nikkei article that states that half of the lay offs -- 5,000 in all -- will come from "a reorganization of its businesses for small and medium-size display panels and noncore chemicals," a move that had earlier been revealed and that doesn't at all affect Sony's gaming divisions.

Source: http://ps3.ign.com/

Renewed Hiring in Japan's Manufacturing Sector - Robert Walters

JHRS — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:21:55 GMT

Hiring in Japan's manufacturing sector rebounded in late 2011 according to the Robert Walters' 2011 Q4 Japan Job Index. Advertised job openings grew by 31% from Q3 to Q4 for manufacturing roles sustained largely by increased investment into the industrial sector and improved business activity. Industrial manufacturers recruited aggressively as they received budgets to rebuild their sales and engineering teams following 2-3 years of headcount uncertainty.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net/

Talent in Demand but Employers Want a Perfect Fit, Says Hays

JHRS — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:17:02 GMT

Accounting Managers, bilingual Investment Bankers, Corporate Attorneys and Executive Secretaries are amongst a growing list of talent in demand in Japan, says recruiting experts Hays.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net/

Nomura, Top Japan Brokerages to Boost Graduate Hires by 13%

JHRS — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:11:39 GMT

Nomura Holdings Inc. (8604), Japan’s largest brokerage, and its biggest domestic rivals plan to boost hiring of college graduates by about 13 percent next year in anticipation of a global market recovery.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com

Government to slash hiring 56% in '13

JHRS — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:13:49 GMT

The central government has decided to cut the number of new recruits for fiscal 2013 by 56 percent from 2009, when 8,511 fledgling bureaucrats were hired, government sources said Saturday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan pension scandal shakes trust in cherished system

JHRS — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:07:29 GMT

TOKYO, Japan - Trucking company president Masazumi Ando said he was furious when he saw the head of an investment firm that lost $1.3 billion in pension money bow in apology at a parliamentary hearing last week.

Source: http://www.rappler.com/

Japan must promote women

JHRS — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:05:08 GMT

Japan wants to increase the proportion of women in leadership roles at companies and public offices to 30 percent by 2020, according to a Cabinet paper in June 2011.

Source: http://www.journalgazette.net

Japan's Legal Recruiting Trends: Hays Legal Survey Results

JHRS — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 02:53:01 GMT

Tokyo - One in four (26 per cent) legal firms are seeking to fill a legal position, while almost one in three (31 per cent) have grown their headcount over the past two years, according to recruiting experts Hays Legal.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net/

Takashimaya tells new recruits to dress, speak casually

JHRS — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 02:34:25 GMT

Department store operator Takashimaya Co. will ban new recruits from wearing suits at its initiation ceremony April 1, hoping to create a relaxed environment in which the young employees feel free to voice their opinions.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Former Goldman Employees Form Union in Japan

JHRS — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 02:24:12 GMT

TOKYO – A Goldman Sachs employee on Thursday recounted in a faltering voice how he toiled away in the back offices of the bank’s Japanese operations for nearly a decade before being told last year that his job was being eliminated.

Source: http://dealbook.nytimes.com

Dire job situation still plagues Japan's grads

JHRS — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 02:52:00 GMT

Half the 2010 graduates from Japan's universities and technical colleges, and two-thirds of high school graduates, are either unemployed, working as temporary staff, or have quit or are expected to quit their jobs within three years, according to government estimates.

Source:http://www.asianewsnet.net/

Informal job offers for Japan's graduating students increase

JHRS — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 02:35:20 GMT

A joint survey by the labor and education ministries indicates improvement in the job market for this spring's university graduates, as 80.5 per cent of university students set to graduate this month had received unofficial job offers as of Feb. 1, up 3.1 percentage points from the record low at the same time last year.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com/

Japan's Giants accused of salary breach

JHRS — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:36:50 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's richest baseball team, the Yomiuri Giants, could face an investigation after a newspaper report said they regularly burst the professional league's salary limit between 1997 and 2004.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

Panel advises keeping nursing test in Japanese

JHRS — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 02:57:45 GMT

A health ministry panel is urging the government to keep holding the national nursing test for foreign examinees in Japanese, despite strong calls to let them take it in their mother tongues.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Hays Outlines How to Maximise the Value of Your Salary Increase

JHRS — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 02:42:04 GMT

Almost one fifth of Japan's workforce can expect a salary increase above three per cent this year, according to the 2012 Hays Salary Guide. According to Hays, listing your achievements and proving your value to the business are two steps in ensuring you join this group to maximize the value of your next salary increase.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net/

Wages crept up 0.3% in January

JHRS — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:02:51 GMT

The regular monthly wage for workers crept up 0.3 percent in January from a year earlier to an average ¥261,074, climbing for the first time in 13 months on pay raises in the welfare, medical and manufacturing sectors, the health ministry said Tuesday.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan’s Job Prospects Improve

JHRS — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:12:20 GMT

Job prospects in Japan improved in January as the world’s third-biggest economy showed signs of rebounding from a contraction in the fourth quarter.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/

Japan jobless rate inches up to 4.6% in January

JHRS — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:16:07 GMT

Japan's unemployment rate inched up to 4.6 percent in January from a revised 4.5 percent in the previous month, the government said on Friday.

Source: http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/

Threatened Goldman Japan workers unionize: Financial giant butts against tough domestic labor law as it seeks to slim down workforce

JHRS — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:25:20 GMT

The past year has been anything but business as usual for the financial industry. Faced with a frosty economic climate, financial service companies have been busy chopping dead wood. Last year, 200,000 financial service jobs ended up on the cutting block worldwide.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Career Development Drives Japan's Mid-career Changers: Hays Reveal How to Make a Successful Mid-career Change

JHRS — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:57:57 GMT

Tokyo, Feb 20, 2012 - (JCN Newswire) - Career advancement, a salary increase and improved work/life balance are the main reasons people decide to make a mid-career change, says recruiting experts Hays.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net

Japan to cut civil servant's pay by 7.8 percent

JHRS — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 03:22:09 GMT

Tokyo, Feb 19 (IANS) The salaries of Japanese government employees will be cut by 7.8 percent for two years from the 2012 fiscal year, a media report said Sunday.

Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com

Wall Street Banks May Thaw Japan M&A Hiring, Recruiter Says

JHRS — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:57:36 GMT

Foreign banks in Japan may resume hiring this year to advise local clients taking advantage of the stronger yen to acquire companies abroad, while cutting jobs for other investment banking services, a recruitment firm said.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com

Low Wages Compound Japan's Grim Prospects

JHRS — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:55:07 GMT

In Japan, bonuses are not what they once were. Just ask Keiko Shimoharaguchi.

Ms Shimoharaguchi, an employee of the health insurance arm of a major newspaper, looks forward to her biannual bonuses undefined a standard feature of Japanese salaried worker life undefined as a chance to splash out on non-essentials such as jewelry.

Source:http://www.cnbc.com

Hays Salary Guide Released: Salaries in Japan Hold Steady but Skills Shortages Still a Challenge

JHRS — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:16:41 GMT

Salary increases will remain negligible in Japan this year, with employers instead turning to benefits to reward their staff, according to the 2012 Hays Salary Guide.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net

Concur Japan Announces New Employee Spend Management Solution

JHRS — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:12:13 GMT

Concur Japan announced today the launch of its employee spend management solution, Concur Expense, developed specifically to meet the demands of the increasing number of corporations in Japan that are turning to cloud computing and mobile solutions to help them control expenses.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com

Concur Japan Announces New Employee Spend Management Solution

JHRS — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:53:46 GMT

Japan Inc. Suppliers Cut Jobs as Yen Batters TV, Chip Profit

JHRS — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:20:43 GMT

Sumco Corp., a supplier to Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp., said yesterday it will cut 1,300 jobs. Auto windshield maker Nippon Sheet Glass Co., which sells to Mazda Motor Corp., said it will cut 3,500 jobs. They join NEC Corp., a Japanese maker of telecom equipment and components, which said last month it would eliminate 10,000 positions.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com

Japan glass maker to cut jobs amid Europe crisis

JHRS — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:15:13 GMT

Japan's number two glass maker, Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG), will lay off 3,500 workers worldwide, as it faces losses due to its significant exposure to Europe.

Source:http://news.yahoo.com

Hays: Top Ten Global Skills Shortages

JHRS — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:00:56 GMT

"Talent shortages are a global problem," said Christine Wright, Managing Director of Hays in Japan. "We operate in 31 countries and these skills are the ones that our clients globally say are in most demand. For anyone considering their career options in our globalized economy, these are the skills to focus on.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net

Japan jobs treadmill grinds down workers and firms

JHRS — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:57:56 GMT

TOKYO, February 1, 2012 (AFP) - Third year university student Saki Fujii flips through a meticulously kept diary of her six-month job hunt and eyes the busy week of interviews ahead -- another step on the treadmill for one of Japan's would-be workers.

Source: http://www.mysinchew.com

Japan Jobless Rate Rises as Strong Yen Squeezes Companies

JHRS — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:08:04 GMT

Japan’s unemployment rate unexpectedly rose last month as the strong yen continues to squeeze manufacturers.The jobless rate was 4.6 percent in December, the statistics bureau said in Tokyo today. The median forecast of 30 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News was for the rate to remain at 4.5 percent.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com

Japan’s Nuclear Temp Workers Exposed to Unmeasured Risks

JHRS — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:51:25 GMT

Thousands of day laborers and subcontracted workers were enlisted to clean up nuclear waste and shut down the earthquake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant last year, with many of these workers celebrated as national heroes. However, much is still unknown about their health and employment status.

Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com

Japan not calculating radiation amount absorbed while Fukushima workers are off-clock

JHRS — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:59:11 GMT

Japan's health ministry is not calculating the amount of radiation workers at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 power plant absorbed after they were evacuated or while they were off the clock.

Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com

Mid-career Changers: Hays Identifies the Changing Face of Japan's Workforce

JHRS — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:42:37 GMT

Ninety five per cent of companies plan to hire new staff in 2012, and almost one half (47 per cent) of these job vacancies will be filled by mid-career changers, according to a survey by recruiting experts Hays.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net

Japan's quake victims face job crisis

JHRS — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:52:42 GMT

With unemployment benefit payments for some people in areas hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake beginning to end this month and only temporary jobs available, the unemployment crisis in the Tohoku region is worsening.

Source: http://www.asianewsnet.net

More Talk, More Hiring: Mobile Development Leads Talent Trend This Quarter, Says Hays

JHRS — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:57:55 GMT

Tokyo, Jan 16, 2012 - (JCN Newswire) - The talent race will be greatest in Japan's booming IT sector this quarter, with job opportunities increasing by multiples of ten for mobile development skills, says recruiting experts Hays.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net

Japan wants high-skill foreigners

JHRS — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:48:53 GMT

With a decreasing population and needs for globalization Japan is facing a dramatic talent shortage. Japan has then decided to introduce a point-based immigration system to accept more foreigners with professional skills to become residents. The new system is set to be effective as of April.

Source: http://theasiacareertimes.com

Adecco expands in Japan's job market

JHRS — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:37:32 GMT

Adecco, the world‘s biggest human resources group, announced Tuesday it would buy Japanese competitor VSN, increasing its share in the country‘s professional staffing market.

Source: http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu

Japan 'mancession' as jobs increasingly go to women

JHRS — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:28:42 GMT

Three times a week, Seiya Ogawa bikes to an unemployment center in Kadoma, home to Panasonic Corp., looking for work to help pay for his son's final year at college.

Source: http://www.sfgate.com

Uniqlo to recruit all year, allow first-year students to apply

JHRS — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:53:25 GMT

Fast Retailing Co. said it will begin year-round employment recruitment starting in spring 2013, with applications accepted from college students of all years of study, including freshmen.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp

Workers at tsunami-struck Japan nuclear plant hit by common stomach flu outbreak

JHRS — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:47:28 GMT

TOKYO - Dozens of workers at Japan's tsunami-hit nuclear power plant have come down with symptoms of stomach flu, halting a radioactive waste cleanup operation.

Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com

Japan job fair for flood-hit workers

JHRS — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:52:52 GMT

The Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) is joining with Thai agencies to host a job fair in January to provide opportunities for flood-affected workers, Labour Minister Phaderm-chai Sasomsap said yesterday after a discussion with JETRO president Setsuo Iuchi.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com

Hays' Top Ten Talent Issues for 2012

JHRS — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:40:06 GMT

Tokyo, Japan - Dec 15, 2011 (PRN): The dispersal of personnel out of Tokyo post-earthquake, the integration of mobile technology and demand for bilingual skills are among the top issues that will dominate Japan's recruitment market in 2012, according to recruiting experts Hays.

Source:http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com

Labour and Employment Minister addresses Kyoto session

JHRS — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:20:53 GMT

Kyoto, Dec 5 : While there is no one-size fits all approach to employment and social policy issues, the full benefits of the globalized economy will only be realized if governments forswear unilateral protectionist measures and multilateral agencies in addition to sharing their expertise, support the nationally determined models of development, said Mallikarjun Kharge, Union Minister for Labour and Employment.

Source: http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-120388.html

Japan and Asia Differ on Q3 Hiring Levels - Robert Walters

JHRS — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:41:23 GMT

Tokyo, Dec 8, 2011 - (JCN Newswire) - Recruitment activity in Japan rebounded strongly, with job advertisements increasing 106% from Q2 to Q3 and a further 20% over the course of the quarter. Asia pacific job advertising, however, remained consistent with quarter two levels according to Robert Walters' Asia Job Index for quarter three. The Robert Walters Asia Job Index tracks advertisement volumes for professional positions across the leading job boards and national newspapers in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Korea and Malaysia.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net

Workers at Japan nuclear plant recall tsunami desperation

JHRS — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:33:11 GMT

The embattled operator of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has released workers' accounts of the desperate moments surrounding the huge earthquake and tsunami that triggered an atomic crisis.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

Toshiba to Shut 3 Chip Plants in Japan, Transfer 1,700 Workers

JHRS — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:38:02 GMT

Toshiba Corp. will shut three semiconductor factories in Japan and transfer about 1,700 workers by the end of September 2012 to boost competitiveness eroded by a stronger yen.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com

Japan's Economy, Industrial Production, Employment

JHRS — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:25:49 GMT

Takuji Okubo, chief Japan economist at Societe Generale in Tokyo, talks about the outlook for the nation's economy. Japan’s industrial production increased more than analysts expected in October as manufacturers boosted output of cars. Okubo speaks with Susan Li on Bloomberg Television's "First Up.

Source:http://www.bloomberg.com

Japan jobless rate in unexpected rise

JHRS — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:28:52 GMT

Japan’s unemployment rate unexpectedly rose in October, raising the prospect that the global slowdown and a strong yen are beginning to weigh on the Japanese economy, even as other data showed retail spending picking up.

Source:http://www.marketwatch.com/

Back Office Recruitment on the Rise - Robert Walters

JHRS — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:23:10 GMT

Tokyo - (JCN Newswire) - Back office recruitment grew from the third quarter onwards according to a Japan Job Index poll released by Robert Walters PLC (LSE: RWA), Japan's leading international recruitment consultancy. Functions within human resources (111%), marketing (99%) and supply chain management (105%) all experienced significant job advertising increases in October over Q3 averages. Though the traditional hiring season did play a role in this growth, globalisation strategies and an increase in merger & acquisition activities through the second half of 2011 were also influential.

Source:http://www.japancorp.net/

Japan basketball team hires 1st female head coach

JHRS — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:18:57 GMT

SAITAMA, Japan (AP)—A Japanese American woman became the first female head coach in the history of Japan’s professional men’s basketball league on Thursday.

Source:http://sports.yahoo.com

Shiseido exec aims to elevate women in Japan

JHRS — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:35:43 GMT

TOKYO — As vice president of Shiseido, Kimie Iwata helps lead one of the biggest cosmetics companies in the world and among Japan's best known brands. She is also a rare female executive in the country, a powerful symbol of both the progress and ongoing struggles of Japanese women in the workplace.

Source: http://www.dailyherald.com

Loyal Olympus workers feel betrayal over accounting scandal

JHRS — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:06:08 GMT

Employees at Japan's Olympus Corp are feeling shock, anger and betrayal as they watch the public humiliation of a company to which many have devoted their working lives.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com

Resona Aims to Narrow Japan Gender Gap by Boosting Female Managers to 30%

JHRS — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:57:34 GMT

Resona Holdings Inc. (8308), Japan’s fourth-biggest commercial bank by market value, aims to help narrow the country’s gender gap by adding female managers and appointing a woman as an executive for the first time.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com

Japan's Mizuho to merge units and cut jobs

JHRS — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:02:38 GMT

Japan's Mizuho Financial Group said on Monday that it planned to merge its retail and corporate banking units by the end of the first half of fiscal 2013, in a move that will mean 3,000 job cuts.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

Japan firm unveils robot suit for nuclear workers

JHRS — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:19:31 GMT

TSUKUBA, Japan (AFP) - The Japanese maker of an exoskeleton robot suit to assist walking on Monday unveiled a model that could help nuclear workers weighed down by heavy anti-radiation vests in contaminated zones.

Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com

Over 40% Of Firms Fail To Secure Enough Recruits For Fiscal 2012

JHRS — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:01:22 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo)--More than 40 percent of Japanese companies surveyed have failed to secure sufficient numbers of new graduates as recruits for fiscal 2012 which starts next April, a job information service firm said recently.

Source: http://e.nikkei.com

MF Global Fired 15 Japan Workers Before Bankruptcy, Union Secretary Says

JHRS — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:59:45 GMT

MF Global Holdings Ltd. (MF) fired 15 employees from its Japan unit before filing for bankruptcy yesterday, said Kazuyuki Sugimoto, secretary general at the Federation of Foreign Bank Employees Union.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com

Japan jobless rate falls to 4.1

JHRS — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:07:37 GMT

TOKYO, Oct 28 (Reuters) Japan's jobless rate fell in September and the availability of jobs improved, helped by reconstructionrelated demand after the March disaster but the outlook is murky as corporations may rein in hiring on uncertainty over the global economy and volatile financial markets.

Source: http://biz.thestar.com

Japan's housewives fight for right to work

JHRS — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:04:50 GMT

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda wants more to see more women in the country's labour market.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com

Japan May Add $52 Billion in Aid for Companies Hurt by Yen

JHRS — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:08:58 GMT

Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Japan is preparing to unveil plans to spend an extra 4 trillion yen ($52 billion) to help its exporters cope with a surging yen and spur job creation, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg News.

Source:http://www.businessweek.com

Japan's Panasonic to sharply scale down TV business

JHRS — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:34:01 GMT

OSAKA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Panasonic Corp. decided to sharply scale down its money-losing television-making business, reducing production of plasma display panels and cutting over 1, 000 jobs, Japanese media reported Thursday.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com

Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley To Cut Up To 1,300 Jobs

JHRS — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:45:07 GMT

TOKYO -- Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. will cut up to 1,300 jobs, or about 20% of its workforce, through its second early retirement scheme this year, a person familiar with the matter said Monday, as the brokerage looks to deepen cost cuts amid tough market conditions.

Source:http://www.nasdaq.com

Hays Quarterly Report: Demand Up for Multilingual Candidates in Japan's Recruitment Market

JHRS — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:35:59 GMT

Tokyo, Oct 14, 2011 - (JCN Newswire) - The ability to speak multiple languages, along with Information Technology, Insurance and Office Professional skills, top the list of those in demand this quarter as we move towards the end of 2011, says recruiting experts Hays.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net

Tokyo Bay Traders Announces Commitment to Combat Workplace Depression

JHRS — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:28:40 GMT

Tokyo Bay Traders has announced an initiative to understand the causes, impacts and treatments for depression, coinciding with Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Source: http://bignews.biz

Sony to close Japan plant, lay off 100 contract workers

JHRS — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:14:58 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp will merge two of its wholly owned manufacturing subsidiaries, resulting in the closure of an equipment plant north of Tokyo and the eventual layoff of about 100 contract workers, the company said on Friday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

Tokyo Bay Traders Announces Minimum 4 percent Salary Increase

JHRS — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:35:47 GMT

Tokyo, Japan -- Tokyo Bay Traders today announced it would pay eligible Japanese staff a minimum 4% salary increase from July 2012. Staff will continue to have access to additional performance pay of between 2% and 7%.

Source: http://newpressrelease.com

Labor group Rengo shifts to antinuclear policy

JHRS — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:24:43 GMT

The leadership of Japan's largest labor organization will rethink the body's energy policy in light of the Fukushima nuclear crisis, with a view to shifting from its stance of promoting nuclear power to one that aims for a society not reliant on atomic energy, Rengo sources said Monday.

Source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp

Japan's jobless rate down to 4.3% in August

JHRS — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:37:09 GMT

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's jobless rate stood at 4.3 per cent in August, down 0.4 percentage points from the previous month, the government said Friday.

Scores of ex-bureaucrats landed cushy jobs at TEPCO, linked to lax nuclear safety rules

JHRS — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:44:04 GMT

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) had more than 50 retired bureaucrats working for the utility firm as of the end of August -- a widespread practice in Japan called "amakudari," or "descent from heaven" -- the Mainichi has learned, and former bureaucrats acknowledged that cozy ties between the government and utility firms were a key factor behind the country's lax rules governing nuclear power generation.

Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp

Tepco reform plan calls for axing 7,400 jobs: Yomiuri

JHRS — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:40:48 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - Tokyo Electric Power Co <9501.T> will be advised to cut 7,400 jobs, or about 14 percent of its full-time employees, by March 2014 as part of a plan to help it pay compensation for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the Yomiuri newspaper said on Wednesday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

Tepco considers job cuts as part of restructuring plan

JHRS — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 02:22:22 GMT

Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), the owner of the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, is considering cutting thousands of jobs. Reports say Tepco has told a government backed committee that it may cut as many as 5,000 jobs or 10% of its workforce.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk

Fear for jobs ignites "English crisis" in Japan

JHRS — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:03:50 GMT

TOKYO (Reuters) - It's eight in the morning in a Tokyo office building, and a dozen middle-aged Japanese businessmen sit inside small booths, sweating as they try to talk English to the instructors in front of them.

Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com

Infosys employees support Japan earthquake victims

JHRS — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 01:51:09 GMT

Tokyo - Infosys Limited announced a donation of JPY 20,105,541 (US$ 259,695) towards relief and rebuilding efforts for the victims of the 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku in Japan. The contributions have been made voluntarily by 133,500 Infosys employees belonging to 88 different nationalities from across the globe.

Source: http://www.consultant-news.com

Employment of new grads could hit record low following quake and tsunami

JHRS — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:07:33 GMT

The post-graduation job hunt by university students has been prolonged this year in part because of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, and the employment rate for graduating students in fiscal 2011 could end up being the worst on record.

Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp

Japan may set up nuclear safety training institute

JHRS — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:00:22 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan will consider setting up a nuclear safety training institute to improve the quality of human resources involved in nuclear safety, according to an updated government report on the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp

Business Programs Transform Japan Offices

JHRS — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 01:58:25 GMT

TOKYO — As a young sales manager at a leading Japanese department store company, Masayuki Miyake struggled to find the middle ground between frontline sales workers who did their best to please their customers and the higher-ups who were intent on trimming costs.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com

Japan airport worker posts Obama flight

JHRS — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 02:04:39 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — An air traffic controller at Tokyo's Haneda Airport faces possible punishment after posting confidential information on his blog, including the flight plan for President Barack Obama's visit to Japan last year, news reports said Saturday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com

MCCS Job Fair opens opportunities to service members, families

JHRS — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 01:40:48 GMT

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan - For service members preparing to transition out of the military or personnel looking for career opportunities on Okinawa, Marine Corps Community Services will be hosting its annual Community Job Fair at the community center on Camp Foster Sept. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Source: http://www.dvidshub.net

Japanese employers set to arrive as Nepal fails to send enough Nepali workers under JITCO

JHRS — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 02:05:29 GMT

A delegation of Japanese employers affiliated to Japan International Training Corporation Organisation (JITCO) is visiting Nepal on September 10 with the aim to study various issues concerning the Nepali workers wanting to go to Japan for overseas job.

Source: http://www.nepalnews.com

Kansai Job Openings Up 80 Per Cent, Seekers 70 Per Cent: the Changing Face of Japan's Workplace - Hays

JHRS — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:56:03 GMT

Between February and July 2011, recruiting experts Hays has experienced an 80 per cent increase in the number of jobs registered in the Kansai region, and a 70 per cent increase in the number of candidates looking for a new job in that region.

This redistribution of teams more widely across Japan, instead of concentrating them in Tokyo, is changing the face of Japan's workplace, according to Hays.

Source: http://www.andhranews.net

Japan July wages slip, but overtime pay up

JHRS — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:44:42 GMT

TOKYO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Japanese wage earners' total cash earnings slipped in July but overtime pay rose for the first time in four months as companies made strides in restoring production following disruptions caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami in March.

Source: http://uk.finance.yahoo.com

Robert Walters - Osaka Careers Attracting Tokyo-based Professionals

JHRS — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:54:13 GMT

Osaka, Aug 31, 2011 - (JCN Newswire) - According to Robert Walters Japan's 2011 Market Update, the stability and career opportunities offered in Osaka and the Kinki region are attracting larger numbers of Tokyo-based professionals.

Source: http://www.japancorp.net

Japan's jobless rate edges up to 4.7% in July

JHRS — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:33:48 GMT

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's jobless rate stood at 4.7 per cent in July, up 0.1 percentage point from the previous month, excluding figures from the disaster-hit north-east of the country, the government said on Tuesday.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com

Japanese Company Orders All Staff to Get the Same Haircut

JHRS — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 02:10:31 GMT

The Japanese construction company Maeda Corp. has requested that all of its 2700 employees get the same haircut in the name of saving the environment. The company believes that if all of its employees have short hair - bobs with bangs for women and short on the sides and back for the men - the overall consumption of energy will be reduced.

Source: http://old.news.yahoo.com

Honda to open new Mexico plant, create 3,200 jobs

JHRS — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 01:50:07 GMT

Japanese automaker Honda announced plans Friday to build a new plant in Mexico that will employ 3,200 people and build fuel-efficient subcompact vehicles for the Mexican, US and Canadian markets.

Source: http://newmexiconews.info

'Working holiday' worth the work

JHRS — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 01:52:54 GMT

JAPAN - This year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of the working holiday system in Japan, which enables young people to live abroad for an extended holiday while engaged in employment to support their activities.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com

Japan Workers Begin Eliminating Radiation for Decontamination Month

JHRS — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 01:56:04 GMT

MINAMI-SOMA, Japan - It is a daunting task. Contamination from the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl has spread far and wide, across fields and farms, rivers and forests. Tens of thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes.

Source: http://www.thirdage.com

Qantas to slash 1,000 jobs in company restructure

JHRS — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 04:15:53 GMT

SYDNEY —Qantas Airways says it plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs as part of a major restructure of its international business.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com

Japanese couple prepares poor moms for employment

JHRS — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:24:55 GMT

DAGUPAN CITY—Every 12:30 p.m. thrice weekly, Masaru Okumoto and his wife, Shizuko, take a 10-minute boat ride to Pugaro, a poor community in this city.

Their mission: To teach 15 unemployed mothers how to sew so they can find jobs or be self-employed after the yearlong training.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net

Soft Skills in Demand: Jobseekers with Interpersonal, Leadership, Organisational and Language Skills Wanted - Hays

JHRS — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:06:47 GMT

Tokyo, Aug 11, 2011 - (JCN Newswire) - Interpersonal, leadership, organisational and language skills are four highly valued soft skills, yet jobseekers often overlook their importance when applying for their next role, says recruiting experts Hays in Japan.

Source: http://it.sys-con.com

Japan upgrades economic assessment on recovering production

JHRS — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:02:32 GMT

TOKYO (Kyodo) - The government on Wednesday upwardly revised its monthly assessment of the Japanese economy, citing a recovery in production and exports after a significant downturn following the March earthquake and tsunami, but it also warned of signs of a slowdown in overseas economies.

Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp

Largest labor organization questions nuclear energy policy

JHRS — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 02:30:07 GMT

HIROSHIMA — Japan's largest labor organization questioned national energy policy Thursday, including its diehard promotion of nuclear power despite the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant.

Source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp

UAW leader asks U.S. auto industry to cooperate with labor

JHRS — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:20:36 GMT

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich - United Auto Workers President Bob King urged industry leaders on Wednesday to reject what he called a multibillion-dollar campaign to destroy organized labor. He said strong unions will boost vehicle quality and improve the bottom line for companies as well as workers.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com

Japan designs robot to help healthcare workers with heavy lifting duties

JHRS — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:03:44 GMT

HONG KONG – Researchers in Japan unveiled a robot yesterday that can lift a patient weighing up to 80kg (176lbs) off the floor and onto a wheelchair, an innovation they say will free healthcare workers from the back-breaking task.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com

Japan summer bonuses, overtime pay fall in June

JHRS — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 02:39:01 GMT

TOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Japanese workers' summer bonuses fell and overtime pay marked a third straight month of annual falls in June, government data showed on Tuesday, as the economy remained under strain from the March 11 earthquake and its aftermath.

Source: http://www.reuters.com

Japan's unemployment rate rises to 4.6% in June

JHRS — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:23:06 GMT

TOKYO —Japan’s unemployment rate rose to 4.6% percent in June, up 0.1 percentage points from the previous month, excluding figures from the disaster-hit northeast of the country, the government said Friday.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com

Itoki To Seek 200 Volunteers For Early Retirement

JHRS — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 02:00:53 GMT

OSAKA (Nikkei)--Office furniture maker Itoki Corp. said Monday that it will solicit voluntary early retirement from around 200 employees aged 40-58, or slightly more than 10% of its full-time workforce.

Source: http://e.nikkei.com

Hitachi-GE Launch Human Resource Training Program in the Nuclear Power Field in Southeast Asia

JHRS — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:35:05 GMT

Tokyo, July 25, 2011 -( ASIATODAY )- Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd. (Hitachi-GE) today announced that it has started an international human resource training program jointly with the Tokyo Institute of Technology (TITECH) in the field of nuclear power, energy and the environment, mainly for Southeast Asia. Under this program, Hitachi-GE and TITECH today established a course at the Electric Power University (EPU) in Vietnam to which their lecturers are dispatched.

Source:http://asiatoday.net

Japan pays $4m for human resources

JHRS — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:43:47 GMT

HA NOI - Japan has granted Viet Nam US$4 million to help foster the quality of human resources until 2015.The grant was signed by Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Yasuaki Tanizaki and Education Minister Pham Vu Luan in Ha Noi yesterday.

Source: http://www.einnews.com

Candidate Filipino caregivers leave for Japan

JHRS — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:05:22 GMT

MANILA - The third group of Philippine caregivers who have the chance to work in Japan under an economic partnership agreement between the two countries left Manila on Monday, officials said.

The 60 candidates, 11 men and 49 women, will first undergo six months training in Japanese language in Chiba and Aichi prefectures before they will be deployed to health care facilities in several parts of Japan, Hiroya Yaguchi of the Japan International Corporation of Welfare Services said.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com

Japan to Send Teachers to the US for Training

JHRS — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:56:40 GMT

The Japanese government is sending 96 Japanese English teachers to the U.S. this month to participate in a six-month training program. The teachers will take courses in English education at seven universities. They will stay with American host families and work as interns at American secondary schools.

Source: http://foreignpolicyblogs.com

Some 50 utility workers posed as citizens to back atomic power on TV

JHRS — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:24:06 GMT

FUKUOKA - About 50 Kyushu Electric Power Co. employees and affiliates were involved in attempting to orchestrate an e-mail campaign, posing as ordinary citizens, in support of the restart of its nuclear reactors on a government-sponsored TV program, according to an internal investigation by the utility.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com

Worker exposed Japan's Kyushu Electric deception

JHRS — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 03:06:01 GMT

FUKUOKA - An employee of a Kyushu Electric Power Co. subsidiary blew the whistle on a recent deception in which the utility ordered employees of its offices and subsidiaries to send e-mails supporting the restart of two nuclear reactors to a meeting for local residents, the Japanese Communist Party said.

Source: http://www.asiaone.com

Wages rise for the first time in three months in Japan

JHRS — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:17:09 GMT

According to figures released by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on Tuesday, nominal average monthly cash earnings per regular employee in Japan rose 1.1% year-on-year to Y271,621 in May. Overtime pay fell 3.2% in May, according to the data.

Base wages fell 0.4% in May, for the fifth straight month with a year-on-yeah drop.

Source: http://www.japaneconomynews.com

No pay rises for a third of Japanese professionals in 2011

JHRS — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:05:24 GMT

OSAKA - Despite Asia offering the highest proportion of pay rises globally in 2011, 27% of professionals working across Japan did not receive a salary increase this year, according to a global survey of more than 3,200 professionals released by recruitment consultancy Robert Walters on Wednesday.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com

Toyota hiring 3,000 to 4,000 temp workers in Japan

JHRS — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:44:23 GMT

TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp said Tuesday it will hire 3,000 to 4,000 temporary workers in Japan to be ready for a recovery in vehicle production as automakers bounce back from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Source:http://www.japantoday.com

Honda to hire additional temporary workers

JHRS — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:23:49 GMT

Japan's Honda Motor says it will hire about 1,000 temporary workers to boost its production this year.

Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp

Applications for workers' comp due to mental stress hit record high in '10

JHRS — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:43:20 GMT

A record 1,181 people filed for workers' compensation in fiscal 2010 due to work-related mental stress, setting an all-time high for the second year in a row, according to the labor ministry.

Source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp

330 govt workers died on duty / Compensation claims made easier for surviving family members

JHRS — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:35:43 GMT

A total of 330 local government employees in Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures were killed or went missing while on duty in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, according to an investigation by The Yomiuri Shimbun.

Source:http://www.yomiuri.co.jp

Compensation bill aims to help TEPCO pay victims

JHRS — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:31:13 GMT

TEPCO began in late April paying preliminary compensation to victims of the nuclear disaster. For example, up to 1 million yen is paid to households who evacuated due to the nuclear crisis, and as of late May, up to 2.5 million yen can be paid to people in agriculture, forestry and fisheries businesses affected by the incident.

Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp

Six more Tepco staff exposed beyond limit

JHRS — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 07:55:51 GMT

Six more workers involved in efforts to contain the nuclear crisis at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 power plant are feared to have been exposed to radiation above the emergency limit, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Monday.

Source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp

Applications for workers' comp due to mental stress hit record high

JHRS — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:32:09 GMT

TOKYO - A record 1,181 people filed for workers’ compensation in fiscal 2010 claiming they suffered work-related mental stress, breaking the record for a second year in a row, the labor ministry said Tuesday.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com

SMBC Nikko to dispatch 360 new employees to disaster-hit areas

JHRS — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:44:32 GMT

TOKYO - SMBC Nikko Securities Inc said Tuesday it will dispatch around 360 new employees to Miyagi Prefecture, which has been severely damaged by the March disaster, in July as volunteers to work at removing debris.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com

Nonregular employees account for 30% of young workers

JHRS — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:15:52 GMT

TOKYO - The government said Tuesday nonregular employees accounted for 30.4% of young workers aged 15 to 24 in 2010, up 0.4 percentage point from the previous year, amid a prolonged economic slump.

Source: http://www.japantoday.com