2015년 일본 노동법 개정 논의의 지형

Recently there have been dynamic changes in various areas of Japanese labor law. These changes are mainly based on the economic policies by Prime minister Abe and his cabinet members (Abenomics), and aiming at revival of Japanese economy by making business-friendly environment. First, Worker Dispatching Act(Act for Securing the Proper Operation of Worker Dispatching Undertakings and Improved Working Conditions for Dispatched Workers, Haken-ho) was revised with deregulating its limit of dispatching period. Originally, except for the 26 professional job categories, there had been 3-year limit of dispatching period. With th revision, client can use dispatched worker without the limit of period, regardless of their job, as long as employee is hired by dispatch business operator with indefinite-term employment contract. Second, white collar exmption is suggested to be introduced by revising Labor Standards Act(Roudou-kijun-ho), which makes it possible to exempt a range of white collar employee from the regulations on the working hour, break, and holiday. Finally, limited regular employment is also pending issue. It suggests a new type of employees whose works are limited from the points of working place, working time, and specific task they perform. These issues reveal the inclination of Japanese labor law and its dynamics of changes. We have to be prudent because the changes have just become visible, with chances of promoting both sides. What we can say now is that, they tend to consider individual employee according to his way of life, which at the same time also reveals the concerns about dividing workers’ group, consequently fixing them.