Rengo urges Japan govt not to ease discretionary work rules

The confederation, known as Rengo, expressed opposition to any "easy expansion" of jobs eligible for the discretionary work system or any relaxation of its requirements in a petition to labor minister Kenichiro Ueno.

The current system is associated with a high share of long working hours and does not necessarily guarantee appropriate treatment for workers, Rengo said.

"What is needed now is labor legislation that allows everyone to work safely and with peace of mind," Rengo President Tomoko Yoshino told Ueno in a meeting while handing the petition. "The answer is not economic growth dependent on long working hours."

In response, Ueno said the government would "carefully advance discussions while hearing views from both employees and employers."

The Japanese business community has pressed for broader use of the system, under which employees are deemed to have worked preset hours regardless of actual time spent on the job and are paid based on agreements with employers.

The Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, the largest business lobby in the country, submitted proposals to Ueno on Thursday calling for broader application of the system as eligible job categories remain too narrow at present.

Discussions on discretionary work rules have been underway at the government since February, when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced a review of the system.