①Even if the downscaling of operations, etc. that an employer seeks to carry out at any of its places of business does not fall under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the employer may, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, formulate a reemployment assistance plan for workers who are compelled to separate from employment due to the downscaling of operations, etc. and submit the plan to the head of the relevant public employment security office for approval. The same applies if the employer modifies the reemployment assistance plan.

②The provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which an employer formulates or modifies a reemployment assistance plan pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph; the provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5) of that Article apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which an employer applies for approval as referred to in the preceding paragraph.