What changes
Nothing yet. This is a proposal, and the content may move in either direction.
On 8 January 2025, a labour ministry study group published a report on reforming the Labour Standards Act. Its main proposals were: a rule that no one may work more than 13 consecutive days (current rules theoretically allow 48); requiring employers to specify the statutory day off in advance; work towards abolishing the 44-hour week for small workplaces in certain industries, which 87.2% of eligible workplaces do not use; a stronger legal basis for a rest interval between shifts; and an examination of a "right to disconnect".
The Labour Policy Council's working conditions subcommittee debated these points through 2025. In December 2025 the ministry dropped plans to submit a bill to the 2026 ordinary Diet session, after the Prime Minister asked for working-hour deregulation to be considered as well. The Basic Policy and Japan Growth Strategy adopted in July 2026 asked the council to review the scope of the discretionary work system, variable working hours, the legal status of consecutive-day limits and rest intervals, and the right to disconnect. The subcommittee resumed on 16 September 2026. Press reports expect a council report by the end of 2026 and a bill in 2027. Unions and employers remain divided, especially on discretionary work.
Who it applies to
All employers, if enacted. Shift-based, retail and 24-hour operations would feel a cap on consecutive days most.
Action for employers
- Check your longest run of consecutive working days. Rosters that allow 14 or more days in a row are the most likely to need changing.
- Pilot a rest interval now. Eleven hours between shifts is the European benchmark and the likely reference point.
- Write down an after-hours contact rule. It costs little and will help if a right to disconnect follows.
- Hold off on redesigning discretionary work. Its scope may widen, but nothing is settled. Revisit once the council reports.
Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, report of the study group on Labour Standards legislation, 8 January 2025.
- Labour Policy Council, working conditions subcommittee, 211th meeting, 16 September 2026.
- Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2026 and Japan Growth Strategy, as presented to the subcommittee on 14 July 2026.
- Jiji Press, report on the postponement of the bill, December 2025.