211th Labor Conditions Subcommittee Minutes, September 16, 2026
Overview
For wage payments to fund transfer provider accounts, the current requirements, including full repayment in the event of failure, will be maintained, while the approach is to clarify the relationship between guarantee amounts and the Payment Services Act. The subcommittee approved revisions to the guidelines and related materials. On labor standards legislation, both labor and management expressed views on future discussion topics, the role of majority representatives, and the treatment of annual paid leave.
Key points
- The requirements for safeguarding assets in digital wage payments will be maintained, with their operation clarified in guidelines and related materials.
- A policy was presented to advance future discussions, focusing on issues such as working time legislation.
- Discussions covered the selection and role of majority representatives, the provision of information and facilities, the obligation to designate the timing of annual paid leave, and methods of calculating pay.
Overview
The 211th Labor Policy Council Subcommittee on Working Conditions was held on September 16, 2026, with wage payment systems for fund transfer provider accounts and labor standards legislation on the agenda.
Future discussions will focus on matters such as rest intervals between work shifts, restrictions on consecutive workdays, discretionary work systems, variable working hours systems, side jobs and concurrent employment, and telework. A proposal was made to hold meetings approximately two or three times per month.
Impact
An employer-side committee member said that clarifying the requirements would help fund transfer providers conduct their business smoothly. A worker-side committee member urged that relaxation of the requirements not be used as grounds for undermining the safety or certainty of wages.
Details
The secretariat proposed maintaining the designation requirement for full repayment within 6 business days of failure. It also proposed clarifying in the guidelines that requirements are met if the guarantee amount is increased in line with planned account openings, and that a guarantee for digital wage payments may also satisfy the safeguarding requirements under the Payment Services Act.
The requirements limiting designated alternative accounts to deposit accounts and similar accounts, and allowing withdrawals in increments of 1 yen, will be maintained. A proposal was made to survey needs, including those of foreign workers. For third-party certification of personal information protection, the direction was to recognize certifications equivalent to the PrivacyMark or ISMS certification.
Under labor standards legislation, discussion topics included the selection and role of majority representatives, employers' provision of information and facilities, and the prohibition of disadvantageous treatment. For annual paid leave, the subcommittee considered the obligation to designate 5 days of leave timing for employees returning from leave and others, as well as methods of calculating pay when leave is taken. Labor and management presented differing views.