Chapter I General Provisions
第一章 総則
第一条（目的）
The purpose of this Act is to improve the working conditions of low-paid workers by guaranteeing a minimum level of wages for them, thereby contributing to securing the worker's livelihoods, the improvement of the quality of the labor force, and ensuring fair business competition as well as to the sound development of the national economy.
第二条（定義）
In this Act, the meanings of the terms set forth in the following items are to be as prescribed respectively in those items:
この法律において、次の各号に掲げる用語の意義は、当該各号に定めるところによる。
the term "worker" means workers as prescribed in Article 9 of the Labor Standards Act (Act No. 49 of 1947) (excluding those employed by businesses or offices which only employ cohabiting relatives and household employees);
労働者 労働基準法（昭和二十二年法律第四十九号）第九条に規定する労働者（同居の親族のみを使用する事業又は事務所に使用される者及び家事使用人を除く。）をいう。
the term "employer" means employers as prescribed in Article 10 of the Labor Standards Act; and
使用者 労働基準法第十条に規定する使用者をいう。
the term "wage" means the wage prescribed in Article 11 of the Labor Standards Act.
賃金 労働基準法第十一条に規定する賃金をいう。