①In cases where a small and medium sized enterprise who is a member of a certified association of small and medium sized enterprises intends to have the association recruit workers needed to handle business concerning persons who take childcare leave or caregiver leave (including leave equivalent to the leave above, the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) during the period the persons take the childcare leave or caregiver leave, and then the association intends to engage in the recruitment, the provisions of Article 36, paragraphs (1) and (3) of the Employment Security Act (Act No. 141 of 1947) do not apply to the small and medium sized enterprise who is a member of the association.

②In this Article and the following Article, the meanings of the terms listed in the following items are as prescribed respectively in those items:

③If The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare finds that a certified association of small and medium sized enterprises has ceased to be appropriate as an entity that provides counseling services and support referred to in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph, the Minister may rescind the certification referred to in the same item..

④The certified association of small and medium sized enterprises referred to in paragraph (1) must, in intending to engage in the recruitment, then as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, notify the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of the recruitment period, the number of workers to be recruited, the recruitment area, and other particulars with regard to the recruitment of workers and which are specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

⑤The provisions of Article 37, paragraph (2) of the Employment Security Act apply mutatis mutandis to the case where the notification pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph is made; the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (4) of Article 5-3, Article 5-4, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 5-5, Article 39, Article 41, paragraph (2), Article 42, Article 48-3, paragraph (1), Article 48-4, Article 50, paragraphs (1) and (2), and Article 51 of the same Act apply mutatis mutandis to a person that engages in recruitment of workers by making a notification pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph; the provisions of Article 40 of the same Act apply mutatis mutandis to the payment of remuneration to a person that engages in recruitment of workers by making a notification pursuant to the provisions of the same paragraph; and the provisions of Article 50, paragraphs (3) and (4) of the same Act apply mutatis mutandis to the case where an administrative agency exercises official authority prescribed in paragraph (2) of the same Article, as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to this paragraph. In this case, the term "a person that intends to carry out labor recruitment" in Article 37, paragraph (2) of the same Act is deemed to be replaced with "a person that intends to engage in recruitment of workers by making a notification referred to in Article 53, paragraph (4) of the Act on Childcare Leave, Caregiver Leave, and Other Measures for the Welfare of Workers Caring for Children or Other Family Members," and the term "order to abolish recruitment business with regard to the workers, or period" in Article 41, paragraph (2) of the same Act is deemed to be replaced with "period."

⑥With regard to the application of the provisions of Article 36, paragraph (2) and Article 42-2 of the Employment Security Act, the term "referred to in the preceding paragraph" in Article 36, paragraph (2) of the same Act is to be replaced with "which is to be paid by a person who intends to make people not under that person's employment engage in the recruitment of workers and is to be paid to those people"; the term "a recruitment contractor prescribed in Article 39" in Article 42-2 of the same Act is to be replaced with "a person which engages in the recruitment of workers by making a notification pursuant to the provisions of Article 53, paragraph (4) of the Act on Childcare Leave, Caregiver Leave, and Other Measures for the Welfare of Workers Caring for Children or Other Family Members"; and the term "the same paragraph" is to be replaced with "the following paragraph."

⑦The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may request a certified association of small and medium sized enterprises to submit a report with regard to the status of provision of counseling services and support referred to in item (ii) of paragraph (2).

The public employment security office must, with regard to a certified association of small and medium sized enterprises which engages in recruitment of workers pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article, endeavor to promote the effective and appropriate implementation of the recruitment by means of providing employment information, the results of research and study about vocation and by providing guidance on details and means of the recruitment based on these information.

①The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare is to, for the purpose of contributing to the promotion of balancing working and family life of applicable workers, etc., implement research and studies required for management of employment, development and improvement of vocational ability and other matters with regard to the relevant workers.

②The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may request the heads of relevant administrative organs to offer information and other necessary cooperation for the enforcement of this Act.

③The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may request necessary research reports from prefectural governors for the enforcement of this Act.

The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may, when finding it necessary for the enforcement of this Act, request reports from employers or give relevant advice, guidance, or recommendations.

The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare may publicly announce an employer's failure to follow a recommendation given pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article for the employer's violation of the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 9-3, paragraph (2), Article 12, paragraph (2), Article 16-3, paragraph (2) and Article 16-6, paragraph (2)), Article 9-3, paragraph (1), Article 10, Article 12, paragraph (1), Article 16 (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-4 and Article 16-7), Article 16-3, paragraph (1), Article 16-6, paragraph (1), Article 16-8, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-9, paragraph (1)), Article 16-10, Article 17, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 18, paragraph (1)), Article 18-2, Article 19, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (1)), Article 20-2, Article 21, paragraph (1), paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) of the same Article (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 23-3, paragraph (6)), Article 21, paragraphs (4) through (6), Article 22, paragraph (1), paragraph (2) or paragraph (4), Article 22-2, Article 23, paragraphs (1) through (3), Article 23-2, Article 23-3, paragraph (1), paragraph (4), paragraph (5) or paragraph (7), Article 25, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 52-4, paragraph (2) and Article 52-5, paragraph (2)) , or Article 26.

The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare must hear in advance the opinions of the Labour Policy Council in intending to enact or amend an Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare referred to in Article 2, item (i) and items (iii) through (v), Article 5, paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) and paragraph (4), item (ii), Article 6, paragraph (1), item (ii) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 9-3, paragraph (2), Article 12, paragraph (2), Article 16-3, paragraph (2), and Article 16-6, paragraph (2)), Article 6, paragraph (3), Article 7, paragraph (2) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 9-4) and paragraph (3) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 9-4 and Article 13), Article 8, paragraphs (3) and (4) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 9-4 and Article 14, paragraph (3)), Article 9, paragraph (2), item (i), Article 9-3, paragraph (3) and paragraph (4), item (i), Article 9-5, paragraph (2), (4), (5) and (6), item (1), Article 10, Article 12, paragraph (3), Article 15, paragraph (3), item (i), Article 16-2, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 16-5, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 16-8, paragraph (1), item (ii), paragraph (3) and paragraph (4), item (i) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-9, paragraph (1)), Article 17, paragraph (1), item (ii), paragraph (3) and paragraph (4), item (i) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 18, paragraph (1)), Article 19, paragraph (1), items (ii) and (iii), paragraph (3) and paragraph (4), item (i) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (1)), Article 21, paragraph (1), paragraph (2) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 23-3, paragraph (6)), paragraph (4) and paragraph (5), Article 22, paragraph (1), item (iii), paragraph (2), item (iii) and paragraph (4), item (iii), Article 22-2, Article 23, paragraphs (1) through (3), Article 23-3, paragraph (1), paragraph (2), paragraph (3), item (ii) and paragraph (5), as well as Article 25, paragraph (1); in intending to formulate the guidelines referred to in Article 28 or in specifying other important matters with regard to the enforcement of this Act.

Part of the authority of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare provided for in this Act may be delegated to the Director-General of the Prefectural Labour Bureau as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Beyond what is provided for in this Act, procedures and other matters required for the implementation of this Act are prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

①The provisions of Chapter VI, Chapter VII, Articles 52-6 through Article 54, and Articles 62 through 65 do not apply to persons intending to become mariners prescribed in Article 6, paragraph (1) of the Mariners' Employment Security Act (Act No. 130 of 1948) and mariners subject to the provisions of the Mariners Act (Act No. 100 of 1947) (referred to as "mariners" in the following paragraph).

②With regard to mariners certain terms of this Act are to be replaced as national government below. The term "Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare" in the following provisions is to be replaced with "Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism": Article 2, item (i) and items (iii) through (v); Article 5, paragraphs (2) through (4), and paragraph (6); Article 6, paragraph (1), item (ii) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 9-3, paragraph (2), Article 12, paragraph (2), Article 16-3, paragraph (2) and Article 16-6, paragraph (2)) and paragraph (3); Article 7 (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 9-4 and Article 13); Article 8, paragraph (3) and (4) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 9-4, Article 14, paragraph (3)); Article 9, paragraph (2), items (i) and paragraph (3); Article 9-2, paragraph (3); Article 9-3, paragraph (3), paragraph (4), item (1); Article 9-5, paragraph (2) , paragraph (4) , paragraph (5) , paragraph (6), item (1) and paragraph (7), Article 9-6, paragraph (1), Article 10; Article 11, paragraph (3); Article 12, paragraph (3); Article 15, paragraph (3), item (i) and paragraph (4); Article 16-2, paragraphs (1) through (3); Article 16-5, paragraphs (1) through (3); Article 19, paragraph (1), items (ii) and (iii), paragraphs (2) and (3), and paragraph (4), item (i) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 20, paragraph (1)); Article 19, paragraph (5); Article 20, paragraph (2); Article 21, paragraph (1), paragraph (2) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 23-3, paragraph (6)), paragraph (4) and paragraph (5); Article 21-2, paragraph (1), item (iii) and paragraph (2); Article 22, paragraph (1), item (iii), paragraph (2), item (iii) and paragraph (4), item (iii); Article 22-2; Article 23, paragraphs (1) through (3); Article 23-3, paragraph (1), paragraph (2), paragraph (3), items (ii) and (iii), paragraph (5) and paragraph (6); Article 25, paragraph (1); Article 29; Article 57; Article 58; and the preceding Article. The term "leave pursuant to the provisions of Article 65, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Labor Standards Act (Act No. 49 of 1947)" in Article 9, paragraph (2), item (iii) is to be replaced with "a period of absence from work pursuant to the provisions of Article 87, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Mariners Act (Act No. 100 of 1947)." The term "leave pursuant to the provisions of Article 65, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Labor Standards Act" in Article 9-5, paragraph (6), item (iv), Article 15, paragraph (3), item (ii) and Article 19, paragraph (4), item (iii) is to be replaced with "a period of absence from work pursuant to the provisions of Article 87, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Mariners Act." The term "has taken leave pursuant to the provisions of Article 65, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Labor Standards Act (Act No. 49 of 1947)" in Article 9-6, paragraph (1) is to be replaced with "was absent from work pursuant to the provisions of Article 87, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Mariners Act (Act No. 100 of 1947)." The term "residence" in Article 23, paragraph (2), item (i) is to be replaced with "a place of business on land"; and the term "working from home, etc." is to be replaced with "work on land." The term "measures for working from home, etc." in that item, Article 23-3, paragraph (1), item (ii) and Article 24, paragraph (2) is to be replaced with "measures for work on land." The term "make...work pursuant to the provisions of Article 32-3, paragraph (1) of the Labor Standards Act" in Article 23, paragraph (2), item (ii) is to be replaced with "make...board a ship making a short voyage." The term "measures including a change of the starting time" in that item, Article 23-3, paragraph (1), item (i), and Article 24, paragraph (1), items (i) and (ii) is to be replaced with "measures including boarding a ship making a short voyage." The term "annual paid leave pursuant to the provisions of Article 39 of the Labor Standards Act" in Article 23-3, paragraph (1), item (iv) and Article 24, paragraph (1) is to be replaced with "paid leave pursuant to the provisions of Articles 74 through 78 of the Mariners Act." The term "working from home, etc." in paragraph (4) of the same Article is to be replaced with "work on land." The term "Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare" in Article 28 and Articles 55 through 58 is to be replaced with "Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism." The term "Chapters II through VIII" in Article 52-2 is to be replaced with "Chapters II through V, Chapter VIII." The term "through Article 52-6" in Article 52-3 is to be replaced with ", Article 52-5 and Article 60, paragraph (3)." The term "Director-General of the Prefectural Labour Bureau" in Article 52-4, paragraph (1), Article 52-5, paragraph (1) and Article 58 is to be replaced with "Director-General of the District Transport Bureau (including the Director of the Transport Supervision Department)." The term "the Dispute Coordinating Committee set forth in Article 6, paragraph (1)" in Article 52-5, paragraph (1) is to be replaced with "a conciliator appointed from among those listed in the mediator candidate list set forth in Article 21, paragraph (3)." The term "Article 16-6, paragraph (1), Article 16-8, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-9, paragraph (1)), Article 16-10, Article 17, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 18, paragraph (1)), Article 18-2" in Article 56-2 is to be replaced with "Article 16-6, paragraph (1)." The term "Article 16-5, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 16-8, paragraph (1), item (ii), paragraph (3) and paragraph (4), item (i) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-9, paragraph (1)), Article 17, paragraph (1), item (ii), paragraph (3) and paragraph (4), item (i) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 18, paragraph (1))" in Article 57 is to be replaced with "Article 16-5, paragraphs (1) and (2)." The term "Labour Policy Council" in Article 57 is to be replaced with "Council for Transport Policy."

③The provisions of Articles 20 through 26, and Article 31, paragraphs (3) and (4) of the Act on Equal Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women in Employment apply mutatis mutandis to conciliation by a conciliator appointed pursuant to the provisions of Article 52-5, paragraph (1) as applied by replacing terms pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph. In this case, the term "the commission" in Article 20 through 23, and Article 26 of the same Act is deemed to be replaced with "a conciliator"; the term "the workplace" in Article 20 is deemed to be replaced with "the place of business"; the term "the Prefectural Labour Office where the commission is established" in Article 21 thereof is deemed to be replaced with "the District Transport Bureau (including the transport supervision department) where the Director-General of the District Transport Bureau (including the Director of the Transport Supervision Department) who has appointed the conciliator is assigned", the term "Article 18, paragraph (1)" in Article 25, paragraph (1) thereof is deemed to be replaced with "Article 52-3 of the Act on Childcare Leave, Caregiver Leave, and Other Measures for the Welfare of Workers Caring for Children or Other Family Members (Act No. 76 of 1991)"; the term "pending before the commission" in Article 26 thereof is deemed to be replaced with "handled by the conciliator"; the term "the preceding paragraph" in Article 31, paragraph (3) thereof is deemed to be replaced with "Article 52-5, paragraph (1) of the Act on Childcare Leave, Caregiver Leave, and Other Measures for the Welfare of Workers Caring for Children or Other Family Members."

①The provisions of Chapters II through IX, Article 30, the preceding Chapter, Article 53, Article 54, Article 56, Article 56-2, the preceding Article, Article 62 through Article 64 and Article 66 do not apply to national government employees.

②With regard to national government employees, the term "former employee who resigned due to childcare" in Article 32 is to be replaced with "former employee who resigned due to childcare (meaning former employee who resigned due to childcare prescribed in Article 27; the same applies hereinafter)"; and the term "applicable workers, etc." in Article 34, paragraph (2) is to be replaced with "applicable workers, etc. (meaning applicable workers, etc. prescribed in Article 30; the same applies hereinafter)."

③An employee of an agency engaged in administrative execution prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (4) of the Act on General Rules for Incorporated Administrative Agencies (Act No. 103 of 1999) (referred to as the "agency engaged in administrative execution" hereinafter in this Article) (in the case of an employee who is not required to work full-time other than those who hold a part-time government position prescribed in Article 60-2, paragraph (1) of the National Public Service Act (Act No. 120 of 1947) (hereinafter in this Article referred to as a "specified part-time employee"), the employee is limited to a person prescribed in the proviso of Article 11, paragraph (1) when the provisions of the proviso of the same paragraph apply to the employee; the same applies in paragraph (5)) may, upon obtaining an approval of the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution for which the employee works, take leave (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution") in order to take care of an applicable family member of the employee who, due to injury, sickness, or physical or mental disability, has difficulty in leading daily life for a period specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provided for in Article 2, item (iii) (hereinafter in this Article and the following Article referred to as a "family member requiring caregiving").

④A period during which caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution may be taken is to be a period that is found necessary and is specified by the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution (hereinafter referred to as "designated period" in paragraph (31)), based on a request by the employee prescribed in the preceding paragraph, with regard to each family member requiring caregiving, for each continued condition that requires caregiving prescribed in the same paragraph, up to three times and not more than a total of 93 days.

⑤The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, when an approval for caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution is requested from an employee who intends to obtain the approval, approve the request, excluding days or hours, within the period pertaining to the request, which are found to impede the administration of business; provided, however, that this does not apply if the request is made by a specified part-time employee who is specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as a person for whom there are reasonable grounds for caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution not being granted.

⑥An employee of an agency engaged in administrative execution (in the case of a specified part-time employee, limited to a person who, when the provisions of the proviso to Article 6, paragraph (1) (limited to the part pertaining to item (ii)), as applied mutatis mutandis by replacing terms pursuant to Article 16-3, paragraph (2), are applied, does not fall under that item as applied mutatis mutandis by replacing terms pursuant to Article 16-3, paragraph (2); the same applies in paragraph (8) and paragraph (9)) who takes care of a child who has not completed the third grade of elementary school (meaning a child who has not completed the third grade of elementary school prescribed in Article 16-2, paragraph (1); the same applies in the following paragraph, and paragraph (6) and paragraph (7) of the following Article) may, with the approval of the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution for which the employee works, obtain leave (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "short-term leave for sick/injured childcare, etc. at an agency engaged in administrative execution") in order to take care of that child who has not completed the third grade of elementary school and has been injured or has fallen ill, to take care of that child who has not completed the third grade of elementary school in a way specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare under Article 16-2, paragraph (1) as necessary for the prevention of illness, or to take care of that child who has not completed the third grade of elementary school because of a closure of the school pursuant to the provisions of Article 20 of the School Health and Safety Act or other grounds specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare under the same paragraph as being equivalent thereto, or to participate in an event concerning the education or childcare of that child who has not completed the third grade of elementary school that is specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare under the same paragraph.

⑦The number of days for short-term leave for sick/injured childcare, etc. at an agency engaged in administrative execution that the employee may obtain is to be up to five days per year (or ten days in cases where the employee prescribed in the preceding paragraph is taking care of two or more children who have not completed the third grade of elementary school).

⑧Short-term leave for sick/injured childcare, etc. at an agency engaged in administrative execution may be taken in a unit of less than one day as prescribed in the Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare by persons other than those prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as employees of the agency engaged in administrative execution whose scheduled working hours per day are short.

⑨The head of an agency engaged in administrative execution must, when an approval for short-term leave for sick/injured childcare, etc. at an agency engaged in administrative execution is requested from an employee who intends to obtain the approval, approve the request, except in cases where the request would be found to impede the administration of business.

⑩An employee of an agency engaged in administrative execution (in the case of a specified part-time employee, the employee is limited to a person who, when the provisions of the proviso of Article 6, paragraph (1) (limited to the part pertaining to item (ii)), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 16-6, paragraph (2), apply to the person, does not fall under that item as applied mutatis mutandis by replacing terms pursuant to Article 16-6, paragraph (2); the same applies in paragraph (12) and paragraph (13)) may, with the approval of the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution for which the employee works, obtain leave (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "short-term leave for caregiver at an agency engaged in administrative execution") to take care of a family member requiring caregiving of the employee, including other care, specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare set forth in Article 16-5, paragraph (1).

⑪The number of days for short-term leave for caregiver at an agency engaged in administrative execution that the employee may obtain is to be up to five days per year (or ten days in cases where the employee has two or more family members requiring caregiving).

⑫Short-term leave for caregiver at an agency engaged in administrative execution may be taken in a unit of less than one day as prescribed in the Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare by persons other than those prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as employees of the agency engaged in administrative execution whose scheduled working hours per day are short.

⑬The head of an agency engaged in administrative execution must, when an approval for short-term leave for caregiver at an agency engaged in administrative execution is requested from an employee who intends to obtain the approval, approve the request, except in cases where the request would be found to impede the administration of business.

⑭The head of an agency engaged in administrative execution must, in cases where an employee who is taking care of a child before starting elementary school (in the case of a specified part-time employee, the employee is limited to a person who does not fall under any of the items of Article 16-8, paragraph (1) when the provisions of the same paragraph apply to the person) makes a request in order to take care of the child, approve the employee not working in excess of the scheduled working hours as long as no impediment to the administration of business is found.

⑮The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to an employee of an agency engaged in administrative execution who is taking care of a family member requiring caregiving. In this case, the term "Article 16-8, paragraph (1)" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "Article 16-8, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 16-9, paragraph (1)"; the term "any of the items of the same paragraph" is deemed to be replaced with "any of the items of Article 16-8, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 16-9, paragraph (1)"; and the term "take care of the child" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "take care of the family member requiring caregiving."

⑯The head of an agency engaged in administrative execution must, in cases where the head may extend the working hours as prescribed in paragraph (1) of Article 36 of the Labour Standards Act pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph for an employee, when the employee who is taking care of a child before starting elementary school (when the provisions of Article 17, paragraph (1) apply, the employee is to be limited to a person who does not fall under any of the items therein) makes a request in order to take care of the child, approve not extending the employee's working hours beyond a limit (which is prescribed in Article 17, paragraph (1); the same applies in paragraph (16) of the following Article) as long as no impediment is found to the administration of business.

⑰The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to an employee of an agency engaged in administrative execution who is taking care of a family member requiring caregiving. In this case, the term "Article 17, paragraph (1)" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "Article 17, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 18, paragraph (1)"; the term "any of the items in the same paragraph" is deemed to be replaced with "any of the items of Article 17, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 18, paragraph (1)"; and the term "take care of the child" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "take care of the family member requiring caregiving."

⑱The head of an agency engaged in administrative execution must, in cases where an employee who is taking care of a child before starting elementary school and does not fall under any of the items of Article 19, paragraph (1) when the provisions above apply to the employee, makes a request in order to take care of the child, approve the employee not working late-night (meaning late-night prescribed in the same paragraph; the same applies in paragraph (18) of the following Article) as long as no impediment is found to the administration of business.

⑲The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to an employee of an agency engaged in administrative execution who is taking care of a family member requiring caregiving. In this case, the term "Article 19, paragraph (1)" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "Article 19, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 20, paragraph (1)"; the term "any of the items in the same paragraph" is deemed to be replaced with "any of the items of Article 19, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 20, paragraph (1)"; and the term "take care of the child" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "take care of the family member requiring caregiving."

⑳When an employee reports to the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution that an applicable family member has come to require caregiving by the employee, the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, inform the employee of the system for caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution, systems or measures specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as conducive to balancing work and caregiving (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "systems, etc. for balancing work and caregiving"), and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and must conduct interviews or take other measures specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in order to confirm the intention of the employee regarding the request for approval under the provisions of paragraph (5) (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "request for approval of caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution") and the request for approval relating to the use of systems, etc. for balancing work and caregiving (referred to as "request for approval to use systems, etc. for balancing work and caregiving" in paragraph (27)).

（二十一）When an employee reaches the beginning of a period specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare under Article 21, paragraph (5), the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, inform the employee, within that period, of the system for caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution, systems, etc. for balancing work and caregiving, and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

（二十二）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must not treat an employee disadvantageously on the grounds that the employee has filed a report under the provisions of paragraph (20).

（二十三）Beyond what is provided for in paragraph (20) and paragraph (21), the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, with regard to caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution, endeavor to specify the following particulars in advance and take measures to make them known to employees (including informing any employee who is found to be taking care of an applicable family member, at the time of learning about that fact):

（二十四）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, when an employee has filed a request for approval of caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution, endeavor to clearly indicate to the employee, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the treatment of that employee with regard to the particulars set forth in the items of the preceding paragraph.

（二十五）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must take one of the measures set forth in the following items in order to ensure that requests for approval of caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution are made smoothly.

（二十六）Beyond what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, for the purpose of smooth implementation of requests for approval of caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution and smooth return to work following caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution, endeavor to take necessary measures with regard to the assignment of employees and other employment management at a place of business where an employee who takes caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution works, and the development and improvement of the ability of an employee who is taking caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution.

（二十七）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must take one of the measures set forth in the following items in order to ensure that requests for approval to use systems, etc. for balancing work and caregiving are made smoothly.

（二十八）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, with regard to an employee who takes care of a child under three years of age and does not take childcare leave pursuant to the provisions of Article 3, paragraph (1) of the Act on Childcare Leave, etc. of National Public Officers (excluding employees specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as employees whose scheduled working hours per day are short), take measures to shorten scheduled working hours that make it easier for the employee to take care of the child while continuing working (referred to as "measures to shorten prescribed working hours for childcare" in the following paragraph and paragraph (34), item (iii)), based on a request for approval from the employee, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; provided, however, that this does not apply to a specified part-time employee who, when the provisions of the proviso to Article 23, paragraph (1) apply, falls under any of the items of the proviso of the same paragraph.

（二十九）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, if the head decides not to take measures to shorten prescribed working hours for childcare with regard to a specified part-time employee who takes care of a child under three years of age and who, pursuant to the provisions of the proviso of the preceding paragraph, falls under item (iii) of the proviso of Article 23, paragraph (1) when the provisions of the proviso of the same paragraph are applied (hereinafter in this Article referred to as a "specified employee"), take one of the measures set forth in the following items with regard to that specified employee, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

（三十）An employee of an agency engaged in administrative execution (in the case of a specified part-time employee, the employee is limited to a person who does not fall under any of the items of the proviso of Article 23, paragraph (3), when the provisions of the proviso of the same paragraph apply to the person; the same applies in paragraph (32)) may, with the approval of the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution for which the employee works, take time off from part of their scheduled working hours (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "partial-day caregiver leave") to take care of a family member requiring caregiving.

（三十一）A period for which the employee can take partial-day caregiver leave is a period that is found necessary, up to two hours per day for a period of no more than three consecutive years (excluding the period which overlaps with the designated period pertaining to the family member requiring caregiving), with regard to each family member requiring caregiving, for each continued condition that requires caregiving prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

（三十二）The head of an agency engaged in administrative execution must, when an approval for leave is requested from an employee who intends to obtain the approval pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (30), approve the request, except for the hours with regard to which the request would be found to impede the administration of business.

（三十三）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must not treat an employee disadvantageously on the grounds that the employee has filed a request for approval under the provisions of paragraph (28), any of the items of paragraph (29), or the preceding paragraph, that measures have been taken for the employee pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (28) or paragraph (29), or that the employee has taken partial-day caregiver leave.

（三十四）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, with regard to an employee (in the case of a specified part-time employee, limited to a person who does not fall under any of item (i) and item (ii) of Article 23-3, paragraph (3) when the provisions of the same paragraph are applied) who takes care of a child from three years of age until starting elementary school, take two or more of the measures set forth in the following items, based on a request for approval from the employee, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

（三十五）When the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution takes the measure set forth in item (iv) of the preceding paragraph pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the leave prescribed in that item may be obtained, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, in a unit of less than one day as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare by persons other than those prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as employees whose scheduled working hours per day are short.

（三十六）The provisions of paragraph (34) (limited to the part pertaining to item (iv) of the same paragraph) do not apply to a specified part-time employee who falls under item (iii) of Article 23-3, paragraph (3) when the provisions of the same paragraph are applied.

（三十七）When the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution intends to take the measures pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (34), the head must hear in advance the opinion of a labor union organized by a majority of employees at that agency's place of business, if any, or, when there is no labor union organized by a majority of employees, the opinion of a person who represents the majority of the employees.

（三十八）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, inform an employee who takes care of a child under three years of age of the measures taken by the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (34) (hereinafter in this paragraph and paragraph (40) referred to as "applicable measures at an agency engaged in administrative execution") and other particulars specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, within a period specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as appropriate for the employee to determine which of the applicable measures at an agency engaged in administrative execution to select, and must conduct interviews or take other measures specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in order to confirm the intention of the employee regarding a request for approval relating to the applicable measures at an agency engaged in administrative execution.

（三十九）The provisions of Article 21, paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) apply mutatis mutandis to cases where the measures specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare under the preceding paragraph are taken. In this case, the term "employer" in paragraph (2) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution"; the term "an application under the provisions of the same paragraph" is deemed to be replaced with "the applicable measures at an agency engaged in administrative execution prescribed in Article 61, paragraph (38)"; the term "the worker who filed that application" is deemed to be replaced with "the employee who is subject to the applicable measures at an agency engaged in administrative execution"; the term "arising on or after the date of birth of the child" is deemed to be replaced with "arising"; and the term "the worker" is deemed to be replaced with "the employee"; the term "employer" in paragraph (3) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution"; and the term "worker" is deemed to be replaced with "employee."

（四十）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must not treat an employee disadvantageously on the grounds that the employee has filed a request for approval relating to the applicable measures at an agency engaged in administrative execution, that measures have been taken for the employee pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (34), or because of the content of an intention confirmed pursuant to the provisions of Article 21, paragraph (2) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding paragraph.

（四十一）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, with regard to an employee who takes care of a child before starting elementary school, endeavor to take measures to grant leave which an employee, based on a request for approval, can use for purposes related to childcare (other than short-term leave for sick/injured childcare, etc. at an agency engaged in administrative execution, short-term leave for caregiver at an agency engaged in administrative execution, the leave prescribed in paragraph (34), item (iv), and leave which is granted as annual paid leave pursuant to the provisions of Article 39 of the Labor Standards Act, including leave which allows an employee to prepare for childcare after childbirth), and must endeavor to take necessary measures in accordance with measures including a change of the starting time with regard to the employees listed in the following items.

（四十二）Beyond what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, with regard to an employee (excluding a specified employee) who takes care of a child under three years of age and does not take childcare leave pursuant to the provisions of Article 3, paragraph (1) of the Act on Childcare Leave, etc. of National Public Officers, endeavor to take necessary measures in accordance with measures for working from home, etc.

（四十三）The head of an agency engaged in administrative execution must endeavor to take the measures necessary, giving consideration to the period, frequency, and other elements of the caregiving required, in accordance with the systems concerning caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution, short-term leave for caregiver at an agency engaged in administrative execution, or partial-day caregiver leave, with regard to employees, among the employees, who take care of their family members.

（四十四）Beyond what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, the head of an agency engaged in administrative execution must endeavor to take measures to make it easier for an employee, among the employees, who takes care of a family member requiring caregiving and has not taken caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution to take care of that family member requiring caregiving while working, by having the employee engage in working from home, etc. based on a request for approval from the employee.

（四十五）The head of the agency engaged in administrative execution must, with regard to workplace conduct towards an employee concerning the use of childcare leave pursuant to the provisions of Article 3, paragraph (1) of the Act on Childcare Leave, etc. of National Public Officers, caregiver leave at an agency engaged in administrative execution, or other systems or measures prescribed by the Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on childcare and caregiving for family members, provide counseling services to the employee, improve the system necessary for appropriately handling the matters, and take necessary measures of employment management so that the employee does not suffer any disadvantage in their working conditions.

（四十六）The provisions of Article 25, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to cases where an employee of the agency engaged in administrative execution has sought provision of the counseling services referred to in the preceding paragraph or has told the truth when cooperating with the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution in providing the counseling services. In this case, the term "dismiss or otherwise ... disadvantageously" in paragraph (2) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "... disadvantageously."

（四十七）The provisions of Article 25-2 apply mutatis mutandis to conduct prescribed in paragraph (45) in which an employee of the agency engaged in administrative execution is involved. In this case, the term "employer" in paragraph (1) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution"; the term "employer" in paragraph (2) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution"; the term "an employed worker" in paragraph (2) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "employee"; the term "the worker" in paragraph (2) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "the employee"; the term "employer (or, if a corporation, its officers)" in paragraph (3) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "officer of the agency engaged in administrative execution"; the term "worker" in paragraph (4) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "the employee of the agency engaged in administrative execution"; the term "employer" in paragraph (4) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "the head of the agency engaged in administrative execution"; and the term "paragraph (1) of the preceding Article" in paragraph (4) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 61, paragraph (45)."

（四十八）The head of an agency engaged in administrative execution must, when an employee makes a request for approval under the provisions of paragraph (28), any item of paragraph (29), paragraph (34), paragraph (41), or paragraph (44) with regard to measures the head has taken, approve the request, except in cases where the request would be found to impede the administration of business.

①The provisions of Chapters II through IX, Article 30, the preceding Chapter, Article 53, Article 54, Article 56, Article 56-2, Article 60, the following Article through Article 64, and Article 66 do not apply to local government employees.

②With regard to local government employees, the term "former employee who resigned due to childcare" in Article 32 is to be replaced with "former employee who resigned due to childcare (meaning former employee who resigned due to childcare prescribed in Article 27; the same applies hereinafter)"; and the term "applicable workers, etc." in Article 34, paragraph (2) is to be replaced with "applicable workers, etc. (meaning applicable workers, etc. prescribed in Article 30; the same applies hereinafter)."

③An employee prescribed in Article 4, paragraph (1) of the Local Public Service Act (Act No. 261 of 1950) (hereinafter referred to in this Article as "employees of local public entities, etc.") (in the case of part-time personnel other than an employee holding a short-time post prescribed in Article 22-4, paragraph (1) of the same Act (hereinafter referred to in this Article as "employee in a short-time post"), limited to a person who would fall under the proviso to Article 11, paragraph (1) if the provisions of that proviso were applied; the same applies in the following paragraph and paragraph (5)) may, with the approval of the appointer prescribed in Article 6, paragraph (1) of the same Act or a person delegated by the appointer (in the case of staff paid by the prefectural government prescribed in Article 37, paragraph (1) of the Act on the Organization and Operation of Local Educational Administration (Act No. 162 of 1956), the municipal board of education; hereinafter referred to in this Article as "appointer"), take leave in order to take care of a family member requiring caregiving of the employees of local public entities, etc.

④A period for which leave may be taken pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph is to be a period that is found necessary and is specified by the appointer (hereinafter referred to as "designated period" in paragraph (21)), based on a request by the employees of local public entities, etc., with regard to each family member requiring caregiving, for each continued condition that requires caregiving prescribed in the same paragraph, up to three times and not more than a total of 93 days.

⑤The appointer must, when an approval for leave is requested from employees of local public entities, etc. who intend to obtain the approval pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3), approve the request, excluding days or hours, within the period pertaining to the request, which are found to impede the administration of public duties; provided, however, that this does not apply if the request is made by a person, among part-time personnel other than an employee in a short-time post, who falls under those specified by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as a person for whom there are reasonable grounds for the leave under paragraph (3) not being granted.

⑥Employees of local public entities, etc. (in the case of part-time personnel other than an employee in a short-time post, limited to a person who would not fall under the same item if the provisions of the proviso to Article 6, paragraph (1) (limited to the part pertaining to item (ii)), as applied mutatis mutandis, with relevant terms replaced, pursuant to Article 16-3, paragraph (2), were applied; the same applies in the following paragraph through paragraph (9)) who take care of a child who has not yet completed the third grade of elementary school may, with the approval of the appointer, take leave in order to take care of that child who has not yet completed the third grade of elementary school and has been injured or has fallen ill, to take care of that child who has not yet completed the third grade of elementary school as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare under Article 16-2, paragraph (1) as necessary to prevent illness, or to take care of that child who has not yet completed the third grade of elementary school in connection with school closure under the provisions of Article 20 of the School Health and Safety Act or other grounds prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare under the same paragraph as being equivalent to it, or in order to participate in an event concerning the education or childcare of that child who has not yet completed the third grade of elementary school, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare under the same paragraph.

⑦The number of days for leave that employees of local public entities, etc. may obtain pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph is to be up to five days per year (or ten days in cases where the employees of local public entities, etc. take care of two or more children who have not yet completed the third grade of elementary school).

⑧The leave pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (6) may be taken in a unit of less than one day as prescribed in the Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare by persons other than those prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as employees of local public entities, etc. whose scheduled working hours per day are short.

⑨The appointer must, when an approval for leave is requested from employees of local public entities, etc. who intend to obtain the approval pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (6), approve the request, except in cases where the request would be found to impede the administration of public duties.

⑩Employees of local public entities, etc. (in the case of part-time personnel other than an employee in a short-time post, limited to a person who would not fall under the same item if the provisions of the proviso to Article 6, paragraph (1) (limited to the part pertaining to item (ii)), as applied mutatis mutandis, with relevant terms replaced, pursuant to Article 16-6, paragraph (2), were applied; the same applies in paragraph (12) and paragraph (13)) may, with the approval of the appointer, take leave in order to take care of a family member requiring caregiving of the employees of local public entities, etc. or provide other care prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare under Article 16-5, paragraph (1).

⑪The number of days for short-term leave that the employee may obtain pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph is to be up to five days per year (or ten days in cases where the employee has two or more family members requiring caregiving).

⑫The short-term leave pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (10) may be taken in a unit of less than one day as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare by persons other than those prescribed in the Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as employees of local public entities, etc. whose scheduled working hours per day are short.

⑬The appointer must, when an approval for short-term leave is requested from employees of local public entities, etc. who intend to obtain the approval pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (10), approve the request, except in cases where the request would be found to impede the administration of public duties.

⑭The appointer must, when employees of local public entities, etc. (in the case of part-time personnel other than an employee in a short-time post, limited to a person who would not fall under any of the items of Article 16-8, paragraph (1) if the provisions of that paragraph were applied) who take care of a child before starting elementary school make a request in order to take care of the child, approve that the person not work beyond the prescribed working hours, as long as no impediment is found to the administration of public duties.

⑮The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to employees of local public entities, etc. who take care of a family member requiring caregiving. In this case, the term "Article 16-8, paragraph (1)" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "Article 16-8, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 16-9, paragraph (1)"; the term "any of the items of the same paragraph" is deemed to be replaced with "any of the items of Article 16-8, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 16-9, paragraph (1)"; and the term "take care of the child" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "take care of the family member requiring caregiving."

⑯The appointer must, in cases where the appointer may extend, with regard to employees of local public entities, etc., the working hours prescribed in paragraph (1) of Article 36 of the Labor Standards Act pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph, when the employees of local public entities, etc. who are taking care of a child before starting elementary school (when the provisions of Article 17, paragraph (1) apply, the employees are limited to a person who does not fall under any of the items therein) make a request in order to take care of the child, approve not extending the employees' working hours beyond a limit, as long as no impediment is found to the administration of public duties.

⑰The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to employees of local public entities, etc. who take care of a family member requiring caregiving. In this case, the term "Article 17, paragraph (1)" in the preceding paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "Article 17, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 18, paragraph (1)"; the term "any of the items in the same paragraph" is deemed to be replaced with "any of the items of Article 17, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 18, paragraph (1)"; and the term "take care of the child" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "take care of the family member requiring caregiving."

⑱The appointer must, in cases where employees of local public entities, etc. who are taking care of a child before starting elementary school and do not fall under any of the items of Article 19, paragraph (1) when the provisions above apply to the person, make a request in order to take care of the child, approve the employees not working late-night, as long as no impediment is found to the administration of public duties.

⑲The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to employees of local public entities, etc. who take care of a family member requiring caregiving. In this case, the term "Article 19, paragraph (1)" in the preceding paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "Article 19, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 20, paragraph (1)"; the term "any of the items in the same paragraph" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "any of the items of Article 19, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 20, paragraph (1)"; and the term "take care of the child" in the same paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "take care of the family member requiring caregiving."

⑳Employees of local public entities, etc. (in the case of part-time personnel other than an employee in a short-time post, limited to a person who would not fall under any of the items of the proviso to Article 23, paragraph (3) if the provisions of that proviso were applied; the same applies in paragraph (22)) may, with the approval of the appointer, take time off part of their daily working hours in order to take care of a family member requiring caregiving.

（二十一）A period for which the employee can take time off their work pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph is a period that is found necessary, up to two hours per day for a period of no more than three consecutive years (excluding the period which overlaps with the designated period pertaining to the family member requiring caregiving), with regard to each family member requiring caregiving, for each continued condition that requires caregiving prescribed in the same paragraph.

（二十二）The appointer must, when an approval for leave is requested from employees of local public entities, etc. who intend to obtain the approval pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (20), approve the request, except for the hours with regard to which the request would be found to impede the administration of public duties.

（二十三）The appointer must, with regard to workplace conduct towards employees of local public entities, etc. concerning the use of childcare leave pursuant to the provisions of Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Act on Childcare Leave, etc. of Local Public Officers, leave pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3), or other systems prescribed by the Order of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on childcare and caregiving for family members, provide counseling services to the employees of local public entities, etc., improve the system necessary for appropriately handling the matters, and take necessary measures of employment management so that the employees of local public entities, etc. do not suffer any disadvantage in their working conditions.

（二十四）The provisions of Article 25, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to cases where employees of local public entities, etc. have sought the counseling services referred to in the preceding paragraph, or have told the truth when cooperating with the appointer's response to that counseling. In this case, the term "dismiss or otherwise ... disadvantageously" in paragraph (2) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "... disadvantageously."

（二十五）The provisions of Article 25-2 apply mutatis mutandis to conduct prescribed in paragraph (23) in which employees of local public entities, etc. are involved. In this case, the term "employer" in paragraph (1) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "the appointer prescribed in Article 61-2, paragraph (3) (hereinafter referred to as "appointer" in this Article)"; the term "employer" in paragraph (2) and paragraph (4) of the same Article, and the term "employer (or, if a corporation, its officers)" in paragraph (3) of the same Article, are deemed to be replaced with "appointer"; the term "an employed worker" in paragraph (2) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "employees of local public entities, etc. prescribed in Article 61-2, paragraph (3) (hereinafter referred to as "employees of local public entities, etc." in this paragraph and paragraph (4))"; the term "the worker" is deemed to be replaced with "the employees of local public entities, etc."; the term "worker" in paragraph (4) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "employees of local public entities, etc."; and the term "paragraph (1) of the preceding Article" is deemed to be replaced with "Article 61-2, paragraph (23)."