Since the Japanese government launched labor reforms in 2018, thus establishing greater work life balance, employees are enjoying more and more concessions in the form of better labor conditions, sustainable worker efficiency, and enhanced workplace and family relationships. This has also provided greater flexibility and freedom for many workers.
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Vital issues that formed the premises of the national debate on work-life balance
Since as early as the first part of the 1970’s, the hesitation of most Japanese employers to allow their workers to enjoy their weekends off, in the continuing drive to increase economic productivity, clashed with the legitimate demands of workers to be afforded enough rest to rejuvenate and to attain overall work life balance. Today, the debate remains in spite of recent labor reforms passed in 2018 by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo of the Liberal Democratic Party, providing more flexible work conditions.
The issue of overwork has been a prevalent problem in the East Asia region, especially among the developed nations, with South Korea (average total of 33% of workers putting in over 49 hours per week) and Japan (roughly 22%) both leading the statistics over UK, US, Germany and France which range from only 10% to 17 %, based on a report made by Tokyo Review in 2017. This apparent discrepancy serves to highlight the failures of authorities to produce a desirable environment of work balance while sustaining the economic strides that have been achieved in the previous decades leading to this new one.
※The Asia Pacific Journal “The Nation That Never Rests: Japan’s Debate Over Work-Life Balance and Work that Kills”
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Major labor reforms are meeting the urgent need to achieve work life balance in Japan
The Japanese idea of karoshi (translated as death by overwork) is rooted in a tragic incident in 1969 involving the death of an employee for such occupational hazard, which is recognized simply as the result of the lack of sufficient rest or work life balance that is essential for the human body and soul. Taking from the example of many other countries, Japan has begun instituting a two-day weekend as concessions to workers in the form of personal or family vacation off work. More and more companies are gradually realizing the long-term value of the practice. This would bring about the resolution of many issues related to health and family problems as a result of chronic lack of rest, recreation, and fun-filled diversions, such as sports, social events and outdoors activities. Or just simply catching up on one’s sleep or the latest news about family members and friends.
One other positive step taken by some companies is the recognition of their failure to duly compensate overtime work of their workers. With more concessions afforded to workers through legal enactment by authorities, workers are likewise beginning to recognize their inherent right and freedom to seek more work balance by asking a day off, whereas in the past, many often hesitated to even ask out of fear or guilt.
Employees are also better compensated with laws on overtime that serves to benefit the employee and dissuade the employers. The rates are even higher, with the usual overtime increase doubled for any hours worked in excess of a certain threshold per month. The employers are also required to submit a Notification of Agreement on Overtime and Work on Days off to appropriate labor offices to prevent overtime work on non critical junctures, helping prevent overtime to be part of the regular working experience. This is even improved by limiting the overtime hours allowed per threshold time periods.
※Japan External Trade Organization Website, “Section 4, Human Resource Management”
Other than compensation, the national government of Japan and private companies go hand-in-hand in searching for methods that will also protect mental health, to truly provide a holistic healing to the workforce. Much importance is being placed on social works and the importance of rest, and balance. The workplaces are gradually moving towards the benefit of both employees and employers, — the breakeven point.
On the matter of equitable pay based on merit or skills, there is also the growing desire to expand the coverage from just a small niche of the labor sector which is highly skilled or top-level professional to other sectors, if not the whole labor force based on a viable but proportionate distribution not mainly based on skill but also taking into consideration the common inherent social and practical needs of all workers outside of the workplace.
Workers’ demands for more work leaves each year continues to be part of the ongoing debate as more and more citizens in Asia now avail of opportunities to travel and visit many neighboring nations boasting of world-class tourist attractions that are within a few hours of travel time and accommodations and fares are affordable. It is common practice for Japanese executives to spend a golf weekend in some parts of Asia, such as the Philippines or Thailand. For many low-salaried workers, to visit tourist spots in Japan would be a meaningful family outing.
The continuing challenge of achieving work life balance
One positive move has been the passage of the 2018 law prescribing 104 days annual vacation for a merit-based employee, mainly those who receive high salaries, such as workers engaged in research and development and financial consulting. Likewise, a cap on overtime work has been put in place, stipulating 100 hours per month, although it is 20 hours more than the limit prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare(※). On top of that, the institution of Premium Friday enjoins employers to allow workers to leave work on the last Friday of the month without overtime and to observe Teiji which gives workers the right to finish each work day as their contract provides.
※PWC, “Work-Style Reform Legislation in Japan”, p. 2
The legal debate may be over; however, some of the concrete reforms put into place have shed increasing light on the path toward addressing the pressing issues of karoshi and delivering real and beneficial labor reforms. Companies are gradually finding ways to create work life balance for the welfare of workers with each passing day. But such welcome changes can only be effective with better worker protection through transparency in reporting of actual hours served and granting them some power to verify those reports through joint official audits. Meeting the challenges of the demands of globalization and the dwindling young and active labor workforce in Japan has also led authorities to look beyond the Japanese shores to augment the deficit while offering working conditions that will entice highly-skilled and highly-motivated workers from other countries.
The prime challenge faced by the national leadership, along with private companies, therefore, is to formulate immediate and innovative solutions for attaining wholesome and balanced professional, interpersonal and family interactions that will enhance the overall physical and mental health of people in the workplace and at home.
Conclusion
As the country faces a continuing need to bolster its economic health in the face of various challenges in the region and in the world, the pressing need to address the rising demand of workers for labor reforms puts a damper on the national programs for greater stability and productivity. As time passes, Japan will only improve existing laws to comply with the needs of its workforce, giving a balance of not only financial security but holistic development for a truly stable economy. This endeavor is one that will benefit the people in the long run, but this is not one to be solved in a short time span, for the balance of work and life is that of a process rather than an instance.
But all signs point to a positive resolution of this issue. With the use of robotic technology, for instance, some work can now be taken over by AI-run machines at night to maximize productivity at the same time. But will this new trend end up replacing and displacing more and more of humans from the workplace? When that day approaches, the new debate will be about another matter altogether. Meanwhile, the search is on for greater work life balance.
