Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare actively revises its Guidelines for Equal Pay for Equal Work Dōitsu Rōdō Dōitsu Chingin in late 2025. These non-binding guidelines, first issued in 2018 and enforced since 2020-2021, prohibit unreasonable disparities in treatment between regular permanent, full-time and non-regular (part-time, fixed-term, dispatched) workers.
Reasons for Revision
Recent Supreme Court rulings (e.g., Japan Post cases on paid sick leave, bonuses, and allowances) deem certain exclusive benefits for regular workers unreasonable. These decisions prompt updates to align guidelines with judicial precedents and address ongoing pay gaps
This five-year review follows the 2020 reforms aimed at reducing disparities for work Japan’s ~40% non-regular workforce. Revisions strengthen enforcement without new penalties, relying on administrative guidance and potential litigation.
Employers should prepare by reviewing treatment explanations, as labor bureau scrutiny may increase post-finalization.
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