Minimum Wage Act
The Minimum Wage Act Act is a law that sets the minimum amount of wages paid to workers by employers for the purpose of stabilizing workers' lives and improving the labor force. The minimum amount varies by 47 prefectures.Article 1 The purpose of this Act is to improve the working conditions of low-paid workers by guaranteeing a minimum level of wage for them, thereby contributing to securing the worker's livelihoods, the improvement of the quality of the labor force, and ensuring fair business competition as well as to the sound development of the national economy.
The minimum wage, which differs from prefecture to prefecture, is called the "regional minimum wage" and it is discussed at the "Central Minimum Wages Council" which is a meeting composed of representatives of workers, public interest representatives, and employers. The specific amounts of minimum wages are determined by the "Local Minimum Wages Council" established in each prefecture based on the minimum wages determined by the Central Minimum Wages Council. In the end, the official minimum wage is determined by the director of the Labor Bureau of each prefecture.
In addition to the "regional minimum wage" there is also a "Specified (By Industry) Minimum Wages" for workers engaged in specific industries. " Minimum Wages by Industry" is also stipulated for each prefecture. Based on the study by the Minimum Wages Council, specific industries are defined that need to be set a higer standard than the regional minimum wage. If the specified minimum wage is lower than the regional minimum wage, the regional minimum wage will be applied.
The Minimum Wages Law stipulates the minimum amount of wages paid to workers by employers in each prefecture.
There is Minimum Wage by Industry for workers in particular industries.