Japan has more than 300 Labour Standards Inspection Offices, each covering a district and reporting to a prefectural labour bureau under MHLW. They are where employers file their work rules and 36 Agreements, and where employees go to complain about unpaid wages, illegal overtime or unsafe workplaces.
The inspectors have real powers. They can enter workplaces, inspect records and question staff without notice. They usually start with a corrective recommendation and a deadline to fix the problem. For serious or repeated violations, inspectors act as special judicial police officers and can refer the case to prosecutors.
What it means for a foreign employer
- Unpaid overtime is the classic finding. Inspections commonly find work that went unrecorded or was paid at the wrong rate. The remedy is back pay, which can be substantial across a whole team.
- An inspection can start with one complaint. A single employee who leaves unhappy can trigger one. Keep accurate records of hours for everyone not legally exempt.
- Your filings live here. If your Japan entity has ten or more employees, it should have work rules and, if anyone works overtime, a 36 Agreement on file at this office.
Sources
- Labour Standards Act, Articles 97 to 102 (inspection bodies and their powers).