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  4. Joint Declaration on Rectifying Business Practices That Lead to Long Working Hours

Policy Proposals  Labor Policy Joint Declaration on Rectifying Business Practices
That Lead to Long Working Hours

In order for Japan's companies to continue growing sustainably as the country's working population declines, it is essential to substantially improve productivity. This will entail changing inefficient ways of working and hiring and retaining the talented personnel who are the source of competitive strength.

Interest in work style reform has increased in recent years, and a growing number of companies are being guided by the strong personal leadership of their senior management to overhaul corporate cultures and workplace practices predicated on long working hours. To make further progress in this regard, we need to drive forward efforts to reform business practices that are difficult for individual companies to address on their own.

As members of Japan's business community, we declare that we will take the actions detailed below to rectify business practices that lead to long working hours, thereby providing environments that are easy for everybody involved in our supply chains to work in, and contributing to the creation of a sustainable economy. We will maintain communication with consumers and business partners to secure their understanding as we do so.

September 22, 2017
  1. In addition to complying with relevant laws, regulations, and rules, we will ensure that our business partners do not contravene laws or regulations related to labor standards.

  2. In order to avoid entering into contracts that are ambiguous regarding the details of the work ordered, we will ensure that contract terms (related to works ordered, delivery dates, prices, etc.) are always specified.

  3. In addition to setting reasonable delivery dates when agreeing on contracts, we will appropriately change delivery dates by business partners when making specification changes or additional orders.

  4. Unless essential or urgent, we will refrain from specifying particular delivery times or days that would require a business partner's employees to work on holidays or late at night.

  5. We will avoid, as far as possible, meetings and phone calls outside business hours.

  6. We will agree on contracts and conduct business at appropriate prices that commensurate with the value of services provided, such as delivery at short notice, taking on additional work, or offering high quality.

Joint Declaration on Rectifying Business Practices
That Lead to Long Working Hours

  • KEIDANREN (Japan Business Federation)
  • The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • KEIZAI DOYUKAI (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)
  • National Federation of Small Business Associations

Industrial business associations (61 associations)

  • FLAT GLASS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN
  • Japan Federation of Housing Organizations
  • Japan Information Technology Services
  • Communications and Information network Association
  • Trust Companies Association of Japan
  • THE LIFE INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN
  • Japan Petroleum Development Association
  • Petroleum Association of Japan
  • LIMESTONE ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN
  • Japan Cement Association
  • Japanese Bankers Association
  • NATIONAL GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN
  • The National Association of Shinkin Banks
  • Regional Banks Association of Japan
  • NATIONAL RAILWAY EXPRESS FORWARDERS ASSOCIATION
  • Japan Federation of Taxicab Associations
  • JAPAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATION
  • THE SECOND ASSOCIATION OF REGIONAL BANKS
  • Railway Freight Association
  • THE FEDERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER COMPANIES
  • Japan Employers' Federation of Electrical,
  • Japan Electronics and Information Technology
  • The Investment Trusts Association, Japan
  • JCIA Japan Chemical Industry Association
  • JAPAN CHEMICAL FIBERS ASSOCIATION
  • THE JAPAN GAS ASSOCIATION
  • JAPAN FEDERATION OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS
  • The Japan Harbor Transportation Association
  • Japan Mining Industry Association
  • Japan Machine Tool Builders' Association
  • The Japan Rubber Manufacturers Association
  • Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association,Inc.
  • Japan Auto Parts Industries Association
  • Japan Securities Dealers Association
  • Japan Executive Search, and Recruitment
  • Japan Staffing Services Association
  • JAPAN PAPER ASSOCIATION
  • JAPAN PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
  • The Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufactures'
  • The Japanese Shipowners' Association
  • JAPAN SHIP EXPORTERS' ASSOCIATION
  • THE JAPAN WAREHOUSING ASSOCIATION INC.
  • THE SHIPBUILDERS' ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN
  • The General Insurance Association of Japan
  • Japan Chain Stores Association
  • THE JAPAN IRON AND STEEL FEDERATION
  • The Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association
  • The Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers'
  • Japan Paint Manufacturers Association
  • JAPAN DAIRY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
  • Japan Department Stores Association
  • Japan Fertilizer & Ammonia Producers Association
  • The Japan Bearing Industry Association
  • Japan Foreign Trade Council, Inc.
  • JAPAN SPINNERS' ASSOCIATION
  • The Association of Japanese Private Railways
  • JAPAN WOOL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
  • Japan Association of Travel Agents
  • Brewers Association of Japan
  • THE REAL ESTATE COMPANIES ASSOCIATION OF JAPAN
  • The Association for Real Estate Securitization

Regional economic associations (47 associations)

  • Aichi Employers' Association
  • Aomori prefectural employers' association
  • Akita Employers' Association
  • Ishikawa Prefecture Employers' Association
  • Ibaraki Employers' Association
  • Iwate Employers' Association
  • Ehimeken Employers' Associations
  • OITA PREFECTURAL EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • Osaka Employers' Association
  • OKAYAMA PREFECTURAL EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • OKINAWA EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • KAGAWA ASSOCIATION OF EMPLOYERS
  • KAGOSHIMA EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • KANAGAWA-KEN EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • Gifu Prefectural Employers' Association
  • KYOTO EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • KUMAMOTO EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • GUNMA EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • Kochi Employers' Association
  • SAITAMA EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • SAGA EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • THE SHIGA ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION
  • SHIZUOKA EMPLOYER'S ASSOCIATION
  • Shimane PREFECTURAL EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • The Chiba Prefectural Employers' Association
  • Tokyo Employers' Association
  • Tokushima Employers' Association
  • Tochigi employers' association
  • Tottori Employers' Association
  • TOYAMA PREFECTURAL EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • NAGASAKI EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • NAGANO Prefectural Employers' Association
  • NARA ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOSIATION
  • NIIGATA PREFECTURAL EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • HYOGO PREFECTURAL EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • HIROSHIMA EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • FUKUI EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • Fukuoka Employers' Association
  • Fukushima Federation of Employers' Associations
  • Hokkaido Employers' Council
  • MIE EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • Miyagi Employers' Association
  • MIYAZAKI EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
  • Yamagata Prefecture Employers' Association
  • Yamaguchi Employers' Association
  • YAMANASHI Employers' Association
  • WAKAYAMA PREF. EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION
112 associations in total (as of November 16, 2017)

Labor Policy