Chapter I General Provisions
第一章 総則
第一条（目的）
The purpose of the employment insurance is to stabilize the standard of living and employment of workers by providing necessary benefits for workers who are unemployed, who are having trouble continuing employment, who are receiving job-related educational training, or who are taking leave to raise a child or working with shortened prescribed working hours, and to facilitate their job-seeking activities, as well as to prevent unemployment, rectify the employment situation, increase employment opportunities, develop and improve the capacity of workers, and promote their welfare, so as to contribute to their employment security.
雇用保険は、労働者が失業した場合及び労働者について雇用の継続が困難となる事由が生じた場合に必要な給付を行うほか、労働者が自ら職業に関する教育訓練を受けた場合並びに労働者が子を養育するための休業及び所定労働時間を短縮することによる就業をした場合に必要な給付を行うことにより、労働者の生活及び雇用の安定を図るとともに、求職活動を容易にする等その就職を促進し、あわせて、労働者の職業の安定に資するため、失業の予防、雇用状態の是正及び雇用機会の増大、労働者の能力の開発及び向上その他労働者の福祉の増進を図ることを目的とする。
第二条（管掌）
The employment insurance is administered by the government.
雇用保険は、政府が管掌する。
Part of the administration of the employment insurance may be delegated to prefectural governors as specified by Cabinet Order.
雇用保険の事務の一部は、政令で定めるところにより、都道府県知事が行うこととすることができる。
Article 3Employment Insurance Services
第三条（雇用保険事業）
In order to achieve the purposes referred to in Article 1, the employment insurance, in addition to granting benefits for unemployment, etc. and childcare leave benefits, etc., may implement employment stabilization programs and human resources development programs.
第四条（定義）
The term "insured person" as used in this Act means a worker who is employed in a covered undertaking other than the person listed in each item of Article 6.
この法律において「被保険者」とは、適用事業に雇用される労働者であつて、第六条各号に掲げる者以外のものをいう。
The term "separation from service" as used in this Act means the termination of the employment relationship between an insured person and the employer.
この法律において「離職」とは、被保険者について、事業主との雇用関係が終了することをいう。
The term "unemployment" as used in this Act means the conditions under which an insured person is separated from service and is unable to find employment in spite of having the will and ability to work.
The term "wage" as used in this Act means the wage, salary, allowance, bonus and all other payments to the worker from the employer as remuneration for labor under whatever name the remuneration is known (excluding wages that are paid in anything other than currency and are outside the scope specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).
この法律において「賃金」とは、賃金、給料、手当、賞与その他名称のいかんを問わず、労働の対償として事業主が労働者に支払うもの（通貨以外のもので支払われるものであつて、厚生労働省令で定める範囲外のものを除く。）をいう。