Japan to relax overtime regulation under workaholic PM
TOKYO — Japan will ease overtime regulation starting Tuesday in a move meant to help spur economic growth but criticised as a relapse into the country's ingrained workaholic culture. The move comes after the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — a self-proclaimed workaholic — adopted a growth strategy in July calling for revisions to the current oversight of work hours. The change in…
Japan will ease overtime regulation starting Tuesday, a move aimed at boosting economic growth but criticized for potentially strengthening the country's workaholic culture. The change, implemented under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's leadership, reflects efforts to adopt more flexible work styles amid a severe labor shortage. Approximately 40% of Japanese businesses operate within labor-management agreements permitting up to 100 hours of overtime per month, though the government typically advises capping overtime at 45 hours.
This new rule, effective immediately, instructs labor standards inspection offices to no longer limit overtime at this 45-hour threshold. Critics argue this shift could exacerbate Japan's endemic work culture, potentially leading to "karoshi" or overwork-related deaths.
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- Japan to relax overtime rules under ‘workaholic’ PM freemalaysiatoday.com
- Japan to relax overtime regulation under workaholic PM koreatimes.co.kr
- Japan relaxes overtime rules under workaholic Takaichi: ‘unacceptable shift’ scmp.com
- Japan to relax overtime regulation under workaholic PM Takaichi channelnewsasia.com
