The contemporary history of the
labor policy of Japan

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Japan's labor laws: Back toward the 19th century
The New Observer, March 1999. The amendments to the Equal Employment Opportunity Law (EEOL) are part of a larger program intended to revolutionize Japan's labor market, in effect sending it back toward the deregulated atmosphere of the 19th century.
Discretionary labor
Mainichi Shimbun, Monday 4 September 1999. The 40-hour legal workweek will be replaced by a discretionary labor system for many categories of white-collar workers. Performance and salaries will be evaluated on what they actually accomplish.
Japan seeks to prevent deaths from overwork
ABC News, 26 January 2000. Japan said it would introduce a new medical insurance scheme to help prevent karoshi or death from overwork. People who show critical symptoms of obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high blood lipids will be able to have medical examinations free of charge.
The ‘check-off’ system
Mainichi Shimbun, 3 April 2000. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is attempting to get rid of the so-called check-off system, which allows unions to collect dues from their members through payroll deductions.
Workers against Japan reforms
The Star, Friday 12 April 2002. Thousands of Japanese workers swarmed the parliament building in Tokyo yesterday to declare war on a reform agenda drawn up by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.