News & Analysis as of August 1, 2025

Japan

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Hiring & Firing refers to the process of recruiting, interviewing and offering employment and the process of evaluating performance and dismissing employees. Hiring & Firing is a highly regulated area and can create tremendous liability for employers who fail to properly adhere to acceptable employment practices. Some of the potential pitfalls in this area stem from discriminatory hiring practices, improper performance evaluations, and retaliatory firings. less -

Avoiding Unintended Outcomes With Fixed-Term Workers

Ius Laboris on 6/20/2025

Different categories of worker exist in Japan and the classification can have a significant impact on various aspects of employment. Below, we explore the key considerations for employers when it comes to fixed-term...more

It’s Official: Employers in Japan Must Convert Some Fixed-Term Employment Contracts to Indefinite Status

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,... on 5/4/2018

Last month, Japan’s restrictions on fixed-term employment contracts took effect, and employees with at least five years of service with an employer can now be considered indefinite-term employees upon the expiration of their...more

Are You Ready For April 1, 2018 in Japan? Employees on a Fixed-Term Contract Exceeding 5 Years Will Be Able to Convert Their...

Littler on 3/7/2018

Japan has a reputation for being a difficult jurisdiction for firing employees. Accordingly, the use of fixed-term employment contracts has been a regular strategy for employers to maintain more discretion in whether to...more

Japan Legal Update Volume 31 | November 2017

Jones Day on 12/4/2017

Labor & Employment - Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Requests Employer Associations to Prepare for the Conversion Rule - As April 1, 2018, will mark the fifth year since the "Rule on conversion of...more

Renewal of Fixed Term Employment Contracts

K&L Gates LLP on 11/9/2017

It is well known that one of the reasons for the Japanese economy’s significant recovery after the Second World War is a unique life-long, full time employment system, where employees are employed by a business until they...more

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