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Japan HR news·

Tokyo court upholds refusal to re-employ retiree under old criteria; MHLW eyes simpler separation notices

The Tokyo District Court backed a firm that refused re-employment using pre-2012 selection criteria. A Labour Policy Council panel is considering dropping the final month from benefit wage calculations, and NTT lets units offer transfers to about 100,000 staff.

Law and policy

Tokyo court upholds refusal to re-employ a retiree under pre-2012 selection criteria

The Tokyo District Court dismissed a surveying firm employee's claim after the company declined to re-employ him at mandatory retirement. The firm never revised its rules after the 2012 amendment to the older-persons employment law, which generally ended such criteria, yet the court treated the old rules as applicable. It also noted doubts over the result.

Why it matters: Do not rely on this: check that your re-employment rules no longer contain selection criteria and that they match the current law. Appeals or contrary rulings remain possible.

Source: Rodo ShimbunJapanese

Related: Re-employment after retirement (再雇用): what it means in Japan · Retirement Age in Japan: 60 Minimum, Work to 65 Guaranteed · Elderly Employment Stabilisation Act: continued employment to 65 must now be open to everyone who wants it

Law and policy

Panel weighs dropping final month from wages used to calculate jobless benefit

At a Labour Policy Council employment insurance subcommittee, MHLW proposed excluding the last month before leaving when setting the basic daily allowance. About 30% of eligibility cases currently need a corrected separation notice because that month's pay is not yet fixed. Labour and management raised no objection; a concrete plan is due later.

Why it matters: If adopted, separation notices should need fewer corrections. Watch for the detailed plan before updating payroll and leaver procedures.

Source: Rodo ShimbunJapanese

Related: Hello Work (ハローワーク): Japan's public employment service · Employment insurance: coverage extended to people working 10 hours a week

Companies

NTT lets units offer transfers directly to about 100,000 group employees

NTT has started a system in which any organisation, from company to division level, can approach individual employees about transfers. It covers regular staff at 66 companies on the group's shared HR platform. Employees opt in beforehand, and AI suggests candidates from registered skills, using a skills list of 300 to 400 items the group defined.

Why it matters: Another large employer is moving to skills-based, employee-opt-in internal mobility. It raises the bar for rivals' retention and internal-posting schemes.

Source: Rodo ShimbunJapanese

Related: Intra-company Transferee visa (企業内転勤): what it means in Japan

Workplace

Tokyo firms certified under kurumin and eruboshi each pass 2,000

Tokyo Labour Bureau said the number of Tokyo companies holding kurumin (childcare support) certification and eruboshi (women's advancement) certification has each exceeded 2,000 as of the end of September 2026. Companies with 300 or fewer employees account for part of the total.

Why it matters: Certification is increasingly common among Tokyo employers, so it matters in recruiting. Check whether your firm qualifies, particularly if it has 300 staff or fewer.

Source: Rodo ShimbunJapanese

Related: Kurumin certification (くるみん): what it means in Japan · Eruboshi certification (えるぼし): what it means in Japan · Kurumin certification: higher bars for men's childcare leave and overtime

Compiled each weekday morning with AI assistance from the reports linked under each story; summaries are ours, the reporting is theirs. Check the source before acting on anything here. Corrections: editor@hardestmarket.com.