Labor Standards Act

An employer must not infringe upon the freedom of the private life of a worker living in the communal housing associated with its business.

An employer must not try to influence the selection of communal housing leaders, room monitors, and other leaders necessary for the autonomy of life in communal housing.

An employer that has a worker live in communal housing associated with its business must prepare house rules regarding the following particulars, and must notify the relevant government agency of those rules. The same applies when the employer alters these rules:

particulars related to getting up, going to bed, going out, and staying out overnight;

particulars related to regular events;

particulars related to meals;

particulars related to safety and health;

particulars related to the management of buildings and facilities.

In preparing or altering provisions concerning the particulars referred to in items (i) through (iv) of the preceding paragraph, an employer must obtain the consent of a person representing a majority of workers living in communal housing.

In notifying the house rules pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), the employer must attach a document proving the consent referred to in the preceding paragraph.

The employer and the workers who live in the communal housing must observe the house rules.

Regarding communal housing associated with a business, the employer must take the necessary measures for ventilation, lighting, illumination, heating, damp-proofing, cleanliness, evacuation, maximum accommodation, and sleeping facilities, and other measures necessary to maintain the health, morals and lives of the workers.

Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare prescribes the standards for measures to be taken by an employer, pursuant to the preceding paragraph.

If an employer seeks to establish, move, or alter communal housing associated with a business that continuously employs 10 or more workers or communal housing associated with a business that is dangerous or hazardous to one's health and that Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare prescribes, the employer must file with the relevant government agency plans that it has established in accordance with the standards for danger and hazard prevention, and related actions that are prescribed by the Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article, no later than 14 days before the start of the construction work for that communal housing.

If finding it necessary for the safety and health of the workers, the relevant government agency may suspend the start of construction work or order plans to be altered.

If communal housing associated with a business employing a worker is in violation of the standards established for safety and health, the relevant government agency may order the employer to suspend the use of all or part of the communal housing or to alter all or part of the communal housing, and may issue orders on other necessary matters to the employer.

In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, the relevant government agency may order the workers to do as necessary in connection with the particulars for which it has issued orders to the employer.