The Labor Ministry provides various certification system to promote companies’ effort to support workers. Among them is the program aimed to assist workers raising children, (“Kurumin,”) and the measures to support working women, (“Eruboshi.”) This article looks at details of the Eruboshi certification program.
[1] Certification of Eruboshi
Among companies that have filed an action plan, in line with the Act on the Promotion of Women's Active Engagement in Professional Life (the Women’s Promotion Act,) firms making visible efforts and satisfy other requirements may receive certification under the “Eruboshi” program.
Particularly excellent cases will be certified as “Platinum Eruboshi.” Companies that have achieved goals laid out in the action plan or made outstanding progress will be awarded the certificate.
[2] “Eruboshi Plus” introduced in April 2026
In addition to “Eruboshi” and “Platinum Eruboshi,” firms that also meet the requirements regarding the promotion of female workers’ health will be certified as “Eruboshi Plus.” This is part of the measures described in the Women’s Promotion Act that companies should implement in consideration of women’s health. Companies that satisfy all of the requirements below will be certified.
1. Implement a holiday system or a half-day/hourly paid leave system that takes women’s health into consideration;
2. Draw up of a policy regarding women’s health and notifying employees of specific measures, including the systems described in 1;
3. Implement measures to promote employees’ understanding about women’s health, such as seminars;
4. Appoint a person(s) in charge of measures to support women’s health; implementation of a system to have them provide consultation regarding women’s health and notification of the system to employees.
These efforts are considered necessary, since health issues facing male and female workers may be different. Please also note that the protection of employees’ privacy is crucial in handling their health information.
The Labor Ministry’s special website provides examples of companies’ measures. Please make use of such information in implementing systems to promote women’s health.
[Reference]
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Special website for the Women’s Promotion Act (Eruboshi and Platinum Eruboshi certification)”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000091025_00002.html
“Certification of programs to promote female workers’ health (Eruboshi Plus, Platinum Eruboshi”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11900000/001671864.pdf
“Website to support mental and physical health of working women”
https://www.bosei-navi.mhlw.go.jp/health/business-efforts.html
*The information is based on laws and regulations as of the date of the original article.
