The Japanese government is trying to put an end to an extreme work culture that can sometimes have tragic consequences. It’s acting to enforce limits on overtime hours in an effort to prevent deaths from work-related stress.
Cabinet ministers last week approved a new outline of measures from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
Under the outline, the government will work with the labor standards office to ensure employers abide by overtime caps.
Many professions got stricter limits on overtime in 2019. Starting in April this year, the government expanded the limits to all industries, including transportation, construction, and medical care.
Officials also added arts and entertainment to the list of industries where extreme hours are more likely to cause death.
In November, the government will introduce a law intended to protect freelance workers from arduously long hours. In the meantime, the outline is designed to help workers manage their health and wellbeing.