Labor Policy Council

A council (審議会) attached to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Act for Establishment of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Article 6, paragraph (1)). At the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare's request it studies and deliberates on important matters of labour policy (and, at that Minister's or the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry's request, on preventing pneumoconiosis (じん肺)), gives its opinion on them to the Minister or the administrative bodies concerned, and handles the matters the labour laws assign to it (Article 9, paragraph (1) of that Act). It has thirty members, whom the Minister appoints in equal numbers from those representing workers, employers and the public interest, and temporary and expert members may be added for particular matters (Cabinet Order (政令) on the Labor Policy Council (労働政策審議会令), Articles 2 and 3).