In the event that an employer covered by industrial accident compensation insurance (for businesses subject to the provisions of Article 8 of the Act on the Collection, etc. of Insurance Premiums of Labor Insurance (Act No. 84 of 1969), meaning businesses in cases where the provisions thereof do not apply; hereinafter the same applies in this Article) (limited to employers who have been conducting such business for not less than the period specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) receives a ruling on the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise falls under any of the cases specified by Cabinet Order, if there are any unpaid wages (meaning wages still unpaid after the payment date; hereinafter the same applies in this Article and the following Article) of workers engaged in such business who retired within the period specified by Cabinet Order, the government is to pay debts pertaining to the unpaid wages within the scope specified by Cabinet Order on behalf of the employer at the request of the workers (for those specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, limited to those who have received confirmation from the director of a labor standards office with regard to matters such as the amount of unpaid wages as provided for by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of Article 474 of the Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896).

①In cases where a person has received the payment of debts pertaining to unpaid wages by an act of deception or other wrongful acts pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article, the government may order the person to refund all or part of the received payment and to pay an amount not more than that received by an act of deception or other wrongful acts.

②In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, if the payment of such debts pertaining to unpaid wages is attributable to a false report or proof by the employer, the government may order the employer to pay the amount ordered to be refunded or paid pursuant to the provisions of the same paragraph jointly and severally with the person who received the payment of debts pertaining to unpaid wages.

③The provisions of Articles 27 and 41 of the Act on the Collection, etc. of Insurance Premiums of Labor Insurance apply mutatis mutandis to amounts ordered to be refunded or paid pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs.

④Within the limit necessary for the performance of affairs pertaining to the refund or payment of amounts ordered to be refunded or paid pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2), the government may order those persons who fall under the provisions of paragraph (1) (including those considered to fall under the provisions thereof) or employers to submit a report or document on matters such as the amount of unpaid wages and the payment status of wages as provided for by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The service provided in this Chapter is conducted as the service set forth in item (iii) of paragraph (1) of Article 29 of the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act (Act No. 50 of 1947).