November 14, 2025

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira, at a House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting on November 13, urged Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to withdraw her instructions given to Labor Minister Ueno Ken’ichiro to begin discussions on the deregulation of working hours.

Koike cited that at a meeting of a Labor Ministry’ panel consisting of experts and representatives of labor and management, the management side welcomed PM Takaichi’s instruction as a well-timed move. Koike said, “The relaxation of work time rules meets the business circle’s ardent desire to force workers to work as long as it wants.” PM Takaichi in response said, “At companies which set a cap on overtime hours lower than the legal limit, some workers have to take side jobs in order to supplement their income.”

Koike noted that the late former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in the Diet said that labor and management should avoid concluding an overtime agreement that allows workers to work up to the legal maximums (45 hours/month and 360 hours/year). Koike added that Abe also said that excessively long overtime work should be prevented. The JCP lawmaker said to PM Takaichi, “You don’t understand what the overtime cap is. It exists to protect workers from long working hours.”

Koike pointed out that under the discretionary working hours system and other systems that allow for workers’ excessively long working hours, the number of cases recognized as work-related deaths and injuries in 2024 hit an all-time high. He stressed, “To lift work time rules is out of the question. What the government should do is to reduce working hours.”

Koike indicated the government data showing that Japanese workers, especially women, do not get enough sleep compared with workers in other countries. He said, “In order to realize a society where men and women equally share household chores and family responsibilities, it is important to ensure more free time for all workers.” He demanded that PM Takaichi withdraw her intent to relax overtime regulation and work to realize shorter working hours in tandem with wage hikes.