①If an employer seeks to carry out the downscaling of its operations, prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare that is expected to compel a considerable number of its workers at any of its places of business to separate from employment, the employer must formulate a plan for measures to assist the reemployment of those workers (hereinafter referred to as a "reemployment assistance plan") pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

②In formulating a reemployment assistance plan pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, an employer must hear the opinion of the labor union if the place of business associated with the reemployment assistance plan has a labor union composed of a majority of workers, or must hear the opinion of a representative of a majority of workers if the place of business does not have such a labor union. The same applies if the employer seeks to modify the reemployment assistance plan.

③Upon formulating a reemployment assistance plan pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, an employer must submit the plan to the head of the relevant public employment security office for approval pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The same applies if the employer modifies the reemployment assistance plan.

④Upon receipt of an application for approval as referred to in the preceding paragraph, if the head of the relevant public employment security office finds the measures stated in the reemployment assistance plan to be inappropriate for facilitating workers in finding new employment, the head of the public employment security office may request the employer to modify the reemployment assistance plan. If the employer fails to meet such a request, the head of the public employment security office may refuse to grant the approval referred to in the same paragraph.

⑤An employer that has applied for approval under paragraph (3) is deemed to have filed a notification pursuant to the provisions of Article 27, paragraph (1) on the date of application.

①Even if the downscaling of operations, etc. that an employer seeks to carry out at any of its places of business does not fall under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the employer may, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, formulate a reemployment assistance plan for workers who are compelled to separate from employment due to the downscaling of operations, etc. and submit the plan to the head of the relevant public employment security office for approval. The same applies if the employer modifies the reemployment assistance plan.

②The provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which an employer formulates or modifies a reemployment assistance plan pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph; the provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5) of that Article apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which an employer applies for approval as referred to in the preceding paragraph.

For the purpose of facilitating workers who are compelled to separate from employment due to downscaling of operations, etc. (hereinafter referred to as an "assisted worker" in this Article), the government is to, as part of the services for stabilizing employment set forth in Article 62 of the Employment Insurance Act (Act No. 116 of 1974), provide the aid and assistance necessary to employers that give their assisted workers time off to search for jobs (excluding time off given as annual paid leave pursuant to the provisions of Article 39 of the Labor Standards Act (Act No. 49 of 1947)) or that take other measures that are considered to contribute significantly to facilitating workers' in finding new employment, based on a reemployment plan that has been approved pursuant to the provisions of Article 24, paragraph (3) or those of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

①Before there is a fluctuation in the volume of employment (meaning the separation from employment of a considerable number of workers within a certain period of time due to such reasons as downscaling of operations) at an employer's place of business which falls under a case prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (hereinafter referred to as a "large fluctuation in employment" in this Article), the employer must notify the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of the number of workers to be separated from employment and of any other particulars prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

②The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply to large fluctuation in employment involving the national government or a local government. In this case, the appointer (including a person who has been delegated and exercises appointive power; the same applies in Article 28, paragraph (3)) of the national government or a local government is to give notice to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare prior to the large fluctuation in employment pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.

③Upon receipt of a notification under paragraph (1) or a notice under the preceding paragraph, the national government is to endeavor to facilitate the reemployment of workers affected by such notification or notice by taking the following measures: