In this Act, public welfare business means the following businesses, which provide services essential to the daily life of the general public:
この法律において公益事業とは、次に掲げる事業であつて、公衆の日常生活に欠くことのできないものをいう。
transportation business;
運輸事業
mail, correspondence delivery or telecommunications business;
郵便、信書便又は電気通信の事業
business for supplying water, electricity or gas;
水道、電気又はガスの供給の事業
medical treatment or public health business.
医療又は公衆衛生の事業
With the approval of the Diet, in addition to the businesses set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister may designate as a public welfare business any business the stoppage of which will seriously affect the national economy or seriously endanger the daily life of the general public, limited to a period of not more than one year.
Upon the designation of a public welfare business pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister must without delay publicize to that effect by appropriate means such as newspapers and the radio, in addition to giving notice in the Official Gazette.