An employer must not employ a child until the end of the first 31st of March that falls on or after the day on which the child reaches 15 years of age.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, outside of school hours, an employer may employ a child of at least 13 years of age in an occupation involved in a business other a business as set forth in items (i) through (v) of Appended Table 1 which involves light labor that is not injurious to the child's health and welfare, with the permission of the relevant government agency. The same applies to a child under 13 years of age employed in the production of motion pictures and theatrical performances.

An employer must keep at the workplace family register certificates certifying the ages of children under 18 years of age.

For a child employed pursuant to paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, an employer must keep at the workplace a certificate issued by the head of that child's school certifying that the employment does not hinder the child's attendance at school, or written consent from the person who has parental authority for, or is the legal guardian of, the child.

It is prohibited for a person with parental authority over a minor or the legal guardian of a minor to enter into a labor contract in place of that minor.

A person with parental authority over a minor, the legal guardian of a minor, or the relevant government agency may cancel a labor contract prospectively if they consider it disadvantageous to the minor.

A minor may claim their wages for themselves. It is prohibited for a person with parental authority over a minor or the legal guardian of a minor to collect the minor's wages in place of the minor.

The provisions of Articles 32-2 through 32-5, Article 36, Article 40, and Article 41-2 do not apply to persons under 18 years of age.

To apply the provisions of Article 32 to children employed pursuant to Article 56, paragraph (2), the phrase "40 hours per week" in Article 32, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "40 hours per week including school hours", and the phrase "8 hours per day" in Article 32, paragraph (2) is deemed to be replaced with "7 hours per day including school hours".

Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 32, a person aged 15 or over but under the age of 18 may be employed in accordance with the following provisions until they reach the age of 18 (other than during the period until the first 31st of March falling on or after the day the person reaches 15 years of age):

An employer must not have a person under 18 years of age work between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.; provided, however, that this does not apply to males aged 16 years or more who are employed under a shift-work system.

On finding it to be necessary to do so, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may make the hours referred to in the preceding paragraph the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., in limited areas or for limited periods.

In a business in which the employer has workers work under a shift-work system, the employer may have a worker work until 10:30 p.m., notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1); or may have a worker work from 5:30 a.m., notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, with the permission of the relevant government agency.

The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs do not apply if the employer extends working hours or has a worker work on days off pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 33, nor do they apply to businesses as set forth in Appended Table 1, item (vi), item (vii) or item (xiii) or to telephone exchange operations.

For children employed pursuant to the provisions of Article 56, paragraph (2), the hours referred to in paragraph (1) are the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., and the hours referred to in paragraph (2) are the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

An employer must not allow a person under 18 years of age to clean, oil, inspect, or repair a dangerous part of a machine or power transmission device while it is in operation; to put on or take off the driving belts or ropes of a machine or power transmission device while it is in operation; to operate a crane; or to engage in any other dangerous operations prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; and must not allow such a person to engage in operations involving the handling of heavy objects as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

An employer must not have a person under 18 years of age engage in operations involving the handling of a poison, deleterious substance, or other injurious substance or an explosive, combustible, or inflammable substance; operations in a place where dust or powder is dispersed or where harmful gas or radiation is generated, or in a place of high temperatures or pressure; or any other operation in a place that is hazardous to safety, health, or welfare.

Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare prescribes the scope of the operations provided for in the preceding paragraph.

An employer must not have a person under 18 years of age work underground.

If a worker under 18 years of age returns home within 14 days after dismissal, the employer must bear the necessary travel expenses; provided, however, that this does not apply if a worker under 18 years of age has been dismissed for grounds attributable to that worker and the employer has had those grounds certified by the relevant government agency.