June 11, 2026
A bill on “special provisions for concurrent employment for Self-Defense Force reserve personnel,” which facilitates the mobilization of national and local government employees as SDF reserve personnel, became law on June 10 by a majority vote at a plenary session of the House of Councillors.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner “Nippon Ishin no Kai”, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Democratic Party for the People, the “Komeito” party, the “Sanseito” party, the Japan Conservative Party, and the “Team Mirai” party voted in favor, while the Japanese Communist Party, the “Reiwa Shinsengumi” party, the parliamentary group Okinawa Whirlwind, and the Social Democratic Party voted against the bill.
The “Special Measures Act on Concurrent Employment of National and Local Public Employees to Ensure the Smooth Execution of Duties by Self-Defense Force Reserve Personnel and Others” exempts public servants who serve as SDF reservists from requiring their department heads’ permission when responding to a call-up order from the SDF. The new law also exempts them from their normal public service “duty-of-devotion obligations” during active call-ups.
JCP lawmaker Yamazoe Taku, at a meeting of the Upper House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense the previous day, pointed out, “The special measures will place SDF reservist duties above the public duties stipulated in the Constitution, subjecting all public duties to the convenience of the SDF.” He criticized the measures for introducing military priorities into the public sector.
Public sector workers are concerned that the new law will cause chaos in the workplace and prevent them from fulfilling their primary duty of providing essential public services.
Past related article:
> Gov’t proposed bill criticized as first step toward introducing military-draft system [April 8, 2026]
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner “Nippon Ishin no Kai”, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Democratic Party for the People, the “Komeito” party, the “Sanseito” party, the Japan Conservative Party, and the “Team Mirai” party voted in favor, while the Japanese Communist Party, the “Reiwa Shinsengumi” party, the parliamentary group Okinawa Whirlwind, and the Social Democratic Party voted against the bill.
The “Special Measures Act on Concurrent Employment of National and Local Public Employees to Ensure the Smooth Execution of Duties by Self-Defense Force Reserve Personnel and Others” exempts public servants who serve as SDF reservists from requiring their department heads’ permission when responding to a call-up order from the SDF. The new law also exempts them from their normal public service “duty-of-devotion obligations” during active call-ups.
JCP lawmaker Yamazoe Taku, at a meeting of the Upper House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense the previous day, pointed out, “The special measures will place SDF reservist duties above the public duties stipulated in the Constitution, subjecting all public duties to the convenience of the SDF.” He criticized the measures for introducing military priorities into the public sector.
Public sector workers are concerned that the new law will cause chaos in the workplace and prevent them from fulfilling their primary duty of providing essential public services.
Past related article:
> Gov’t proposed bill criticized as first step toward introducing military-draft system [April 8, 2026]
