Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu updates
Extension of wage claim limitation period under Labour Standards Act
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Employment & Immigration
- Japan
- 14 April 2021
In April 2020 the Act on Partial Amendment of the Labour Standards Act entered into force, extending the wage claim limitation period. Employers currently incurring a future liability of unpaid wage claims should take steps to improve their operations in order to prevent the possibility of an increase in the amount of unpaid wage claims after April 2022.
Data protection regulation amendments: new information categories and data subject rights
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Tech, Data, Telecoms & Media
- Japan
- 09 April 2021
In 2020 the Diet promulgated the Amendment Act of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, which will come into force by June 2022. Further proposed amendments have recently been published which introduce new service provisions and information categories and strengthen the rights of data subjects. This article outlines the new provisions and information categories that the amendments introduce.
Equal pay for equal work: differences in working conditions between fixed-term and indefinite-term employees
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Employment & Immigration
- Japan
- 07 April 2021
Amendments to the Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act recently entered into force, aiming to achieve equal pay for equal work. As such, employers cannot create differences in base salary, bonuses and other treatments between part-time and fixed-term employees (so-called 'irregular employees') and non-fixed-term employees (so-called 'regular employees') in light of duties, the level of responsibility and the scope of changes in their job descriptions and assignment.
Data protection regulation amendments: cross-border transfers
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Tech, Data, Telecoms & Media
- Japan
- 02 April 2021
In 2020 the Diet promulgated the Amendment Act of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, which will come into force by June 2022. Further proposed amendments have recently been published, which introduce various new requirements with which businesses must comply when transferring personal data to overseas third parties. This article discusses the effects that the amendments will have on businesses' disclosure requirements when transferring personal data to overseas third parties.
Data protection regulation amendments: new matters to be disclosed
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Tech, Data, Telecoms & Media
- Japan
- 26 March 2021
In 2020 the Diet promulgated the Amendment Act of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, which will come into force by June 2022. Further proposed amendments have recently been published, which introduce various new matters that businesses must disclose to data subjects. This article discusses the effects that the amendments will have on business practices in this regard.
Data protection regulation amendments: data breach reporting and notification obligations
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Tech, Data, Telecoms & Media
- Japan
- 19 March 2021
In 2020 the Diet promulgated the Amendment Act of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, which will come into force by June 2022. Further proposed amendments have recently been published. This article outlines the effect that these proposed amendments will have on businesses' reporting and notification obligations where data breaches occur.
Whistleblowing certification regime – update
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- White Collar Crime
- Japan
- 14 December 2020
Following a number of significant public scandals which stemmed from regulatory and compliance failures, the Consumer Affairs Agency launched an investigation which ultimately led to the creation of the whistleblowing compliance management system, a certification regime for corporate whistleblowing systems. This article provides an overview of the regime and analyses the success of the self-declaration of conformity system.
Amendments to Child Care and Family Care Leave Act
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Employment & Immigration
- Japan
- 14 October 2020
At present, employees can take a half-day to care for a sick or injured child or family member. In order to allow employees to take such care-related leave more flexibly, the Child Care and Family Care Leave Act has been amended, effective as of 1 January 2021, to allow employees to take such time off on an hourly basis. Employers must ensure that the relevant rules of employment are amended and up to date before the amended act enters into force.
Court rules in Japan's first plea bargaining case
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- White Collar Crime
- Japan
- 14 September 2020
The plea bargaining system, which came into effect in 2018, allows suspects and defendants to enter into negotiations with prosecutors whereby evidence of others' criminal conduct can be provided in return for criminal charges being reduced or dropped. This article examines Japan's first bribery conviction involving plea bargaining, which has been successfully appealed to the Tokyo High Court. This case is significant because it will likely influence how public prosecutors use the plea bargaining system in future.
Recent amendments to Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Banking & Financial Services
- Japan
- 07 July 2020
In light of the global trend to further regulate foreign direct investments from a national security viewpoint, the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act of Japan (FEFTA) and regulations thereunder were recently subject to amendments which drew particular attention from Japanese stock market participants concerned about the potential negative impact thereof. This article provides a brief explanation of the amendments to the FEFTA.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on employment
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Employment & Immigration
- Japan
- 27 May 2020
In April 2020 the government declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, prefectural governors have requested certain industries to suspend their business operations. This article provides information for employers on how to handle employment matters during the COVID-19 crisis, including employment adjustment subsidies, salary reductions and dismissals.
Corporate risk when officers or employees have criminal convictions
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- White Collar Crime
- Japan
- 25 May 2020
Companies in Japan that operate in sectors which require permits or licences (eg, the aviation, banking, pharmaceutical, construction, outsourcing and waste disposal sectors) risk having their licences revoked if their officers or certain employees receive a criminal conviction. This article explains the circumstances in which a company's licence may be revoked and sets out certain measures that companies can take to protect themselves against this risk.
Extension of filing deadlines for disclosure documents in response to COVID-19 outbreak
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Banking & Financial Services
- Japan
- 12 May 2020
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Financial Services Agency has announced an extension of the deadlines to file certain mandatory disclosure documents, including annual securities reports. This article explains this unprecedented measure taken in recognition of issuers' difficulties in preparing their disclosure documents in light of the current COVID-19 crisis.
Act on the Protection of Personal Information amended
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Tech, Data, Telecoms & Media
- Japan
- 17 April 2020
A bill to amend part of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information was recently submitted to the Japanese Diet. The bill's main provisions will come into force within two years from the date of their promulgation. This article examines the parts of the bill which are expected to have a significant impact on ongoing business practices.
Cybersecurity in Japan: being aware of your business partners' risks
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Tech, Data, Telecoms & Media
- Japan
- 28 February 2020
A recent high-profile theft of hard drives containing sensitive personal data has highlighted the need for Japan-based companies to ensure that their cybersecurity measures include processes for disposing of personal data that has been entrusted to them and reviewing their security controls regarding business partners who may come into contact with personal data. The case involved an employee at an IP recycling company who stole nearly 4,000 data storage devices that were destined for disposal.
Cybersecurity in Japan: being aware of your business partners' risks
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- White Collar Crime
- Japan
- 24 February 2020
A recent high-profile theft of hard drives containing sensitive personal data has highlighted the need for Japan-based companies to ensure that their cybersecurity measures include processes for disposing of personal data that has been entrusted to them and reviewing their security controls regarding business partners who may come into contact with personal data. The case involved an employee at an IP recycling company who stole nearly 4,000 data storage devices that were destined for disposal.
Personal Information Protection Commission – recent trends
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Tech, Data, Telecoms & Media
- Japan
- 24 January 2020
In recent months, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) has been proactive in publicising cases of data breaches that have had a significant social impact, together with the names of the companies, even when the PPC did not exercise its supervisory authority over the companies in question. Whether this trend will continue should be carefully monitored.
Does Interest Rate Restriction Act apply to corporate bonds?
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Banking & Financial Services
- Japan
- 10 December 2019
Interest rates applicable to loans made in Japan are subject to the Interest Rate Restriction Act, which is Japan's usury law. For decades, legal experts and others questioned whether this regulation also applied to corporate bonds, thereby affording bond issuers the same protections against high interest rates as those enjoyed by borrowers. This longstanding question appears to have been resolved by a recent Tokyo District Court judgment.
Public consultation on appropriate choice and use of Japanese yen interest rate benchmarks
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Banking & Financial Services
- Japan
- 01 November 2019
To address the risk that the London Interbank Offered Rate may be discontinued, the Cross-Industry Committee on Japanese Yen Interest Rate Benchmarks was established to recommend the appropriate choice and use of Japanese yen interest rate benchmarks depending on the type of financial transaction involved and develop transition plans for a new framework enabling the use of Japanese yen interest rate benchmarks. The committee recently published a consultation paper in this regard.
Public consultation on appropriate choice and use of Japanese yen interest rate benchmarks
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu- Banking & Financial Services
- Japan
- 29 October 2019
To address the risk that the London Interbank Offered Rate may be discontinued, the Cross-Industry Committee on Japanese Yen Interest Rate Benchmarks was established to recommend the appropriate choice and use of Japanese yen interest rate benchmarks depending on the type of financial transaction involved and develop transition plans for a new framework enabling the use of Japanese yen interest rate benchmarks. The committee recently published a consultation paper in this regard.
