February 1&2, 2017
A Labor Ministry task force mandated to abolish excessive overwork on January 31 began inspecting a major low-cost travel agency, H.I.S. Co., Ltd., for alleged violations of overtime regulations.
The labor law enforcement task force said that the travel agency in 2015 forced its employees to work overtime beyond the maximum monthly limit set in the company’s labor-management agreement under the Labor Standards Act. Some H.I.S. workers worked more than 100 extra hours a month. Based on the findings of the probe, the task force announced that it will send this case to public prosecutors.
On the same day, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Tamura Tomoko at a House Budget Committee meeting urged the government to set a maximum limit of 45 hours per month on overtime.
The Abe government is reportedly considering proposing an exception to complying with the law in discussions on the tightening of overtime rules. It will allow employers to work their employees more than 100 hours of overtime a month during the busy season.
Tamura pointed out that working more than 80 hours a month is the officially recognized danger line for death from overwork. She said that even during the busy season, ceilings on weekly and monthly overtime should be placed at 15 hours and 45 hours, respectively, as stated in the 2013 labor ministry notification.
Prime Minister Abe in response only said that this matter should be looked at from various angles.
Past related articles:
> Mitsubishi Electric referred to prosecutors for violation of work hour rules [January 12, 2017]
> Dentsu raided over violation of work hour rules [November 8, 2016]
The labor law enforcement task force said that the travel agency in 2015 forced its employees to work overtime beyond the maximum monthly limit set in the company’s labor-management agreement under the Labor Standards Act. Some H.I.S. workers worked more than 100 extra hours a month. Based on the findings of the probe, the task force announced that it will send this case to public prosecutors.
On the same day, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Tamura Tomoko at a House Budget Committee meeting urged the government to set a maximum limit of 45 hours per month on overtime.
The Abe government is reportedly considering proposing an exception to complying with the law in discussions on the tightening of overtime rules. It will allow employers to work their employees more than 100 hours of overtime a month during the busy season.
Tamura pointed out that working more than 80 hours a month is the officially recognized danger line for death from overwork. She said that even during the busy season, ceilings on weekly and monthly overtime should be placed at 15 hours and 45 hours, respectively, as stated in the 2013 labor ministry notification.
Prime Minister Abe in response only said that this matter should be looked at from various angles.
Past related articles:
> Mitsubishi Electric referred to prosecutors for violation of work hour rules [January 12, 2017]
> Dentsu raided over violation of work hour rules [November 8, 2016]
