①If a Labour Relations Commission finds it necessary for performing its administrative affairs, it may request the attendance, submission of reports or necessary books and documents, by the employer or the employers' organization or the labor union, or other persons concerned. The Labour Relations Commission may also have its members or staff members (hereinafter simply referred to as "staff members") inspect factories and other relevant workplaces and inspect the business situations, books and documents and other objects.

②In cases where a Labour Relations Commission has its members or staff members inspect or investigate the places pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Commission must require them to carry an identification card and to present the card to the persons concerned.

Members or those who have been members, as well as staff members or those who have been staff members of a Labour Relations Commission, must not disclose any secrets obtained in relation to their duties. The same applies to local members for adjustment or those who have been local members for adjustment of the Central Labour Relations Commission.

①The public interest members of a Labour Relations Commission participate in the disposition of cases as prescribed in Article 5 and Article 11; examinations, etc., of unfair labor practice cases (referred to as "examinations, etc." in the following Article); and dispositions of cases as prescribed in Article 42 of the Labor Relations Adjustment Act; provided, however, that employer members and labor members may participate in the procedures for conducting an investigation (limited to cases in which the public interest members so request) and holding a hearing pursuant to the provisions of Article 27, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 27-17) and in the procedures for recommending a settlement pursuant to the provisions of Article 27-14, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 27-17), or may perform an act pursuant to the provisions of Article 27-7, paragraph (4) and Article 27-12, paragraph (2) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 27-17).

②The Central Labour Relations Commission may have public interest members serving full time investigate the situations of labor relationships of employees of an agency engaged in administrative execution, and other particulars found necessary for performing administrative affairs of the Central Labour Relations Commission, in addition to those related to the cases pending before the Central Labour Relations Commission.

①The Central Labour Relations Commission conducts its examinations, etc., through a panel, consisting of five public interest members appointed by the chairperson.

②Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases that fall under any of the following items, a panel consisting of all public interest members conducts the examinations, etc.:

③A Prefectural Labour Relations Commission conducts the examinations, etc., through its panel, consisting of all public interest members; provided, however, that, as provided for by ordinance, a panel consisting of five or seven public interest members appointed by the chairperson may conduct examinations, etc. In this case, the provisions of the preceding paragraph (except items (i) and (iv)) apply mutatis mutandis to Prefectural Labour Relations Commissions.

④A Labour Relations Commission, in conducting examinations, etc., in accordance with the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs, may have one or more public interest members carry out the procedures for examinations, etc., in whole or in part (excluding disposition under the provisions of Article 5, paragraph (1), Article 11, paragraph (1), Article 27-4, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 27-17); Article 27-7, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 27-17, other than parts where the parties concerned or witnesses are made to give a statement or where the submitted objects are retained); Article 27-10, paragraphs (2) and (4), and Article 27-12, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 27-17); and a motion under Article 27-20; the same applies in the following paragraph).

⑤Among the procedures for examination, etc., carried out by the Central Labour Relations Commission, the Central Labour Relations Commission may have the local members for adjustment representing the public interest undertake the procedures in whole or in part in making an investigation and holding a hearing pursuant to the provisions of Article 27, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 27-17), and the procedures in whole or in part in recommending a settlement pursuant to the provisions of Article 27-14, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 27-17). In this case, the local members for adjustment representing the employers and the local members for adjustment representing the workers may participate in those procedures (for the procedures in conducting an investigation, limited to the case where the local members for adjustment representing the public interest so request).

①In cases concerning the labor relationships of employees of an agency engaged in administrative execution, the Central Labour Relations Commission assumes exclusive jurisdiction over the conciliation, mediation, arbitration, and disposition (for dispositions under the provisions of Article 5, paragraph (1) and Article 11, paragraph (1) concerning a labor union that is formed or joined by employees of an agency engaged in administrative execution, the dispositions are limited to those specified by Cabinet Order); and the Central Labour Relations Commission assumes priority jurisdiction over the conciliation, mediation, arbitration, and disposition of cases which extend over two or more prefectures or which are related to issues of national significance.

②The Central Labour Relations Commission may re-examine the dispositions of the Prefectural Labour Relations Commission pursuant to the provisions of Articles 5, paragraph (1); Article 11, paragraph (1); and Article 27-12, paragraph (1), with full authority to rescind, approve, or modify the dispositions, or dismiss an appeal for re-examination of those dispositions. The re-examination is to be conducted based on an appeal of either party to the disposition of the Prefectural Labour Relations Commission, or by the Central Labour Commission's authority.

①The Central Labour Relations Commission may establish rules for its procedures as well as for the Prefectural Labour Relations Commission's procedures.

②The Prefectural Labour Relations Commission may establish rules on matters concerning the convocation of its meetings and other particulars specified by Cabinet Order to the extent that they do not violate the regulation set forth in the preceding paragraph.

①If a motion that an employer has violated the provisions of Article 7 is received, the Labour Relations Commission must conduct an investigation without delay and, if it is found necessary, hold a hearing on whether there are reasons for filing the motion. In this case, sufficient opportunity to submit evidence and to cross-examine the witnesses must be given to the employer and to the movant for the procedures of the hearing.

②A Labour Relations Commission may not accept a motion set forth in the preceding paragraph when more than one year has elapsed since the day on which the act in question was committed (in the case of a continuing act, the date on which the act was finished).

①A public interest member is disqualified from execution of duties concerning examinations in the case where the member falls under any of the following items:

②If any of the causes for disqualification prescribed in the preceding paragraph apply, the party to the case may file a motion for the disqualification of the public interest member in question.

①If a public interest member has any circumstances which should preclude fair examination, the party may challenge the public interest member.

②The party may not challenge a public interest member after the party has made a statement in writing or orally on the case to the Labour Relations Commission; provided, however, that this does not apply to a party who did not know the existence of grounds for a challenge, or when the grounds for a challenge arose after the statement was made.

①The Labour Relations Commission makes decisions on motions for disqualification or challenge.

②Public interest members who are involved in the motion for disqualification or challenge may not participate in the decisions set forth in the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that the members may state their opinions.

③The decisions made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) are to be made in writing with the reasons attached.

If a motion for disqualification or challenge has been filed, the Labour Relations Commission must suspend the examination procedures until a decision is made concerning the motion; provided, however, that this does not apply when urgent action is required.

①Prior to commencement of a hearing, the Labour Relations Commission must hear the opinions of both parties and establish an examination plan.

②The examination plan set forth in the preceding paragraph must include the following information:

③The Labour Relations Commission may change the examination plan upon hearing the opinions of both parties if it finds that the change is necessary in consideration of the present state of examination and other circumstances.

④The Labour Relations Commission and the parties must endeavor to ensure that examinations are conducted in accordance with the examination plan, so as to realize a proper and expeditious examination.