The purpose of this Act is to establish a system of proceedings for civil disputes between individual employees and employers about whether or not a labor contract exists or about any issue involving labor relations (referred to below as a "civil dispute on labor relations"), in which a labor tribunal composing of a judge and persons with expert knowledge and experience in labor relations hears the case in a court of law upon petition by the relevant party, and goes through mediation if the labor tribunal believes the issue could likely be resolved this way, or renders a labor tribunal decision (meaning a decision to resolve civil disputes on labor relations of individuals in accordance with the circumstances of the case while taking into account the rights and interests of the parties; the same applies below) (such proceedings are referred to below as "labor tribunal proceedings"), thereby achieving fair, effective, and expedient dispute resolution taking into account the circumstances surrounding the dispute.

①Cases involving labor tribunal proceedings (referred to below as "labor tribunal case") are to be under the jurisdiction of the district court with jurisdiction over the location of the domicile, residence, business office, or any other office of the respondent; the district court that has jurisdiction over the location of the employer's place of business at which the employee actually works or has worked most recently based on the labor relations between the employee and the employer from which the civil dispute on labor relations arose; or a district court determined by an agreement between the parties.

②Labor tribunal cases fall under the jurisdiction of the district court that has jurisdiction over the last place of domicile of the respondent (excluding juridical corporations or any other association or foundation) if the respondent has no domicile or residence in Japan, or the respondent's domicile or residence is unknown.

③Labor tribunal cases in which the respondent is a juridical corporation or any other association or foundation (excluding a foreign association or foundation) are subject to the jurisdiction of the district court with jurisdiction over the place of domicile of its representative or any other principal person in charge of its business if it has no business office or other office in Japan, or the location of its business office or other office is unknown.

④Labor tribunal cases in which the respondent is a foreign association or foundation are subject to the jurisdiction of the district court with jurisdiction over the place of domicile of its representative or any other principal person in charge of its business assigned in Japan if it has no business office or other office in Japan.

①If the court finds that all or part of labor tribunal cases are not under its jurisdiction, it will, upon petition or by its own authority, transfer the case to a court with jurisdiction.

②If labor tribunal cases brought before the court are under its jurisdiction and the court finds it appropriate in order to process the case, it may upon petition or by its own authority, transfer all or part of the labor tribunal cases to another court with jurisdiction.

①No person other than an attorney may serve as an agent in labor tribunal proceedings, except for an agent who can perform judicial acts under laws and regulations; provided, however, that if the court finds it necessary and appropriate in order to protect the rights and interests of the parties and ensure smooth progress in labor tribunal proceedings, the court may permit a person who is not an attorney to serve as an agent.

②The court may rescind the permission granted under the provisions of the proviso to the preceding paragraph.

①In order to achieve the resolution of a civil dispute on labor relations, a party may file a petition for labor tribunal proceedings with the court.

②The petition set forth in the preceding paragraph must be filed by submitting a written petition to a court.

③The written petition set forth in the preceding paragraph must state the following matters:

If the court finds that a petition for labor tribunal proceedings is defective, it must issue an order to dismiss the petition.

The court conducts labor tribunal proceedings under a labor tribunal composed of one labor tribunal judge and two labor tribunal members.

Labor tribunal judges are designated by the district court from among its judges.

①Labor tribunal members, as provided for by this Act, participate in labor tribunals and perform the duties necessary for processing the case from a fair and neutral manner.

②Labor tribunal members are appointed from among persons who have expert knowledge and experience in labor relations.

③Labor tribunal members serve part-time, and in addition to what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, the necessary matters concerning their appointment and dismissal are prescribed by the Rules of the Supreme Court.

④Labor tribunal members are paid an allowance as separately provided by law as well as travel expenses, a daily allowance, and lodging expenses, at amounts specified by the Rules of the Supreme Court.

①Labor tribunal members in labor tribunals are designated by the court for each labor tribunal case.

②When designating labor tribunal members pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the court must take into account the knowledge and experience of the members and any other relevant circumstances, and make careful consideration so as to ensure an appropriate composition of members.

①The provisions of Article 11, and Article 13, paragraphs (2), (4), (8), and (9) of the Non-Contentious Case Procedures Act (Act No. 51 of 2011) (excluding the parts concerning a challenge) apply mutatis mutandis to the disqualification of labor tribunal members.

②A judicial decision on the disqualification of a labor tribunal member is made by the district court to which that labor tribunal member belongs.

①Resolutions by labor tribunals are made in accordance with the opinion of the majority.

②Labor tribunal deliberations are to be confidential.

Labor tribunal proceedings are led by the labor tribunal judge.

①Labor tribunal judges must specify the date for labor tribunal proceedings and summon the relevant persons to appear in court.

②A court clerk must clearly indicate on the record the outline of developments in the proceedings held on the date set forth in the preceding paragraph.

③If the labor tribunal judge so orders, a court clerk must prepare a record of the proceedings held on the date set forth in paragraph (1).

①Labor tribunals must hear statements by the relevant parties and promptly arrange issues and evidence.

②Labor tribunal proceedings must be concluded by the end of the third date of proceedings. except for cases where special circumstances arise.

Labor tribunal proceedings are not open to the public; provided, however, that observation by certain individuals may be permitted if labor tribunals deem it appropriate.

①Labor tribunals may examine facts by its own authority, and may examine evidence as necessary upon petition or by its own authority.

②The provisions of Part II, Chapter IV (excluding Article 179, Article 182; the second sentence of Article 185, paragraph (1), and paragraphs (2) and (3); Article 188, Article 189, Articles 192 through 195 (including cases where these provisions are applied mutatis mutandis under Article 201, paragraph (5); Article 210, and Article 216 of the Act)); Article 200, Article 202 (including cases where these provisions are applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 210 of the Act), Article 205, paragraph (2), Article 206 (including cases where these provisions are applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 210 of that Act), Article 207, paragraph (2), Article 208, Article 209, Article 215, paragraph (2), Article 215-2, paragraphs (2) through (4), Article 215-4, Article 224 (including cases where these provisions are applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 229, paragraph (2), Article 231-3, paragraph (1), and Article 232, paragraph (1) of the Act), Article 225, Article 227, paragraph (2), Article 229, paragraphs (4) through (6), Article 230, Article 232, paragraphs (2) and (3), Article 232-2, and Article 239) of the Code of Civil Procedure (Act No. 109 of 1996) apply mutatis mutandis to the examination of evidence. In this case, the phrase "matters, or matters recorded in a file pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph or matters recorded in the recording medium referred to in that paragraph" in Article 205, paragraph (3) of that Act and the phrase "matters, or matters recorded in a file pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) or matters recorded in the recording medium referred to in that paragraph" in Article 215, paragraph (4) of that Act are deemed to be replaced with "matters"; the phrase "means, or the means of using an electronic data processing system specified by the Rules of the Supreme Court" in Article 231-2, paragraph (2) of that Act is deemed to be replaced with "means"; and the phrase "or sending it, or using an electronic data processing system specified by the Rules of the Supreme Court" in Article 231-3, paragraph (2) of that Act is deemed to be replaced with "or sending it".

If mediation is successful, each party is to bear the costs that they have incurred for which no provisions have been made in the terms of mediation.

When concluding proceedings, labor tribunals must declare this fact on the relevant date of the proceedings.