Wages, Working Hours, Holidays, and Paid Leave
Foreign nationals working in Japan are covered by the same basic labor law rules as Japanese nationals.
Foreign nationals working in Japan are covered by the same basic labor law rules as Japanese nationals.
There are exceptions depending on the type of employment and occupation, so this page explains the basic rules.
Basics of working hours, breaks, and days off
These are all basic rules. There are exceptions depending on certain systems, Article 36 agreements, and type of employment or occupation. Paid leave and the minimum wage also vary by condition, region, and industry.
Statutory working hours
- In principle, no more than 8 hours per day
- In principle, no more than 40 hours per week
Breaks
- More than 6 hours: at least 45 minutes
- More than 8 hours: at least 60 minutes
Days off
- In principle, at least once per week
- Or at least 4 days over a 4-week period
Working hours
Under the Labor Standards Act, in principle, the statutory working hours are:
- No more than 8 hours per day
- No more than 40 hours per week
Certain systems and "Article 36 agreements" (36 kyotei), among other things, can allow work beyond these hours.
Breaks
If your working hours in a day are:
- More than 6 hours → at least 45 minutes of break
- More than 8 hours → at least 60 minutes of break
are required.
If you are asked to respond to work calls during your break and cannot use the time freely, that time may not be treated as a break.
Days off
In principle, a company must give at least one day off per week, or at least 4 days off over a 4-week period.
Overtime pay
When you work beyond the statutory working hours, among other cases, you are entitled to a wage premium.
Keep your own record of overtime, and late-night or holiday work, so you can check it yourself.
Annual paid leave
If you continue working for a certain period and meet conditions such as an attendance rate, you can take annual paid leave.
The system applies to foreign workers in the same way as it does to Japanese workers.
Part-time and temporary workers may also be eligible, depending on things such as their number of working days.
Minimum wage
A company must pay wages at or above the minimum wage that applies to the region and industry.
The minimum wage is revised periodically, so check the latest amount.
If something seems wrong
If you notice things such as:
- Your working hours are extremely long
- You can't take breaks
- Overtime pay isn't paid
- You aren't allowed to take any paid leave at all
- Your wages seem lower than the minimum wage
check with the company, and if necessary, consult a Labour Standards Inspection Office or a labor consultation counter.
What you can check next
- Employment contracts and pay slips
- Unpaid wages, dismissal, and harassment
- Leaving a job, changing jobs, or becoming unemployed
Main places to check
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
- Prefectural Labour Bureau
- Labour Standards Inspection Office
Last checked: August 2026