Companies are required to indicate working conditions when they hire new employees. From October 1, there will be additions to the items that must be included in the notice of working conditions for part-timers or contract workers. This article looks at details.
[1] Background
The Act on Improvement of Personnel Management and Conversion of Employment Status for Part-Time Workers and Fixed-Term Workers (hereinafter, “the Part-timer Employment Act”) stipulates rules regarding the employment of workers whose scheduled working hours are less than regular employees or who work under fixed-term contracts. Article 14, Section 2 requires employers to explain about the difference in the conditions between part-time/fixed-term workers and regular employees upon request. To ensure that part-time/fixed-term workers understand that they may request explanation about their treatment, this matter has been added to the mandatory items in the notice of working conditions.
[2] Items to be added from October
In line with the change, companies need to indicate that “part-time/fixed-term workers may request explanation about the different in the treatment” in the notice of working conditions for part-time/fixed-term workers.
The Labor Ministry provides a sample as below.
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You may request explanation regarding the difference in the treatment from that of ordinary employees (details, reasons), etc. to the department indicated below. |
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Department: |
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Name: (Contact: ) |
Companies may replace “ordinary employees” with the term normally used (“regular employees,” etc.)
[3] Items often missing from the notice
Even under the current rules, companies need to add the four items below to the notice of working conditions for part-time/fixed-term workers.
1. Whether there will be pay increases
2. Whether they will be paid retirement allowances
3. Whether they will be paid bonuses
4. The department/persons to consult with about part-time or fixed-term workers’ employment management
Many companies fail to include Item 4. Companies must indicate who will provide consultation on matters regarding improvements in work conditions or respond to complaints.
It is also common for companies to rehire retired employees under part-time engagement (“shokutaku”). The Part-timer Employment Act is also applied to such workers. Please do not fail to indicate the four items described above and new items required from October in the notice of working conditions. Please create templates for different cases and check them regularly.
■The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Changes in the rules regarding part-time and fixed-term workers (to be implemented on October 1, 2026)”
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/001698010.pdf
*The information is based on laws and regulations as of the date of the original article.
