There are cases where workers consider changing their jobs after having a child to seek a better environment to raise children. In the meantime, some companies transfer or loan workers during the period childcare leave. This article looks at how to treat parental leave benefit or childcare leave benefit (hereinafter, collectively called, “the childcare leave benefit”) in such cases.
[1] Childcare leave benefits
Workers who take childcare leave and satisfy certain requirements can receive childcare leave benefits under the Employment Insurance System.
The benefits are applicable to workers who take leave to care for a child under age 1. They can receive either the parental leave benefit or the childcare leave benefit, or both of them, depending on the types of leave they use. If they need to extend leave for reasons, such as the relevant children cannot enter a nursery school as of the age of one or one and a half, they can receive the childcare leave benefit up to the point when the children turn two.
[2] Changing jobs during childcare leave
Workers may change their jobs during childcare leave. If they meet requirements, they can continue the leave, but the leave at the old and new companies are treated separately in terms of childcare leave benefit. Workers can take childcare leave in two portions and receive the childcare leave benefit for each period. As a basic rule, however, if a worker has already received the benefit for two periods at the old company, the leave at the new company is considered as a third one and the benefit will not be paid.
[3] Transfer or loan during childcare leave
In some cases, companies transfer or loan workers to a subsidiary or group company during childcare leave. Until March 2025, childcare leave before and after an employee transfer or loan was treated as different leave, same as the case of workers who change jobs.
From April 2025, childcare leave before and after an employee transfer or loan has become treated as a continuous one. Even if a worker has split childcare leave in two portions and is receiving the benefit for the second period at the time of transfer, the worker can continue to receive the benefit after the transfer.
The same rule applies to extended childcare leave.
The procedure and necessary documents are different for the childcare leave benefit application for transferred or loaned workers. Please ask the nearest Public employment security office (Hello Work) if there is anything unclear and file the application carefully.
[Reference]
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Childcare leave benefit”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11600000/001461102.pdf
*The information is based on laws and regulations as of the date of the original article.
