In Japan, minimum wage rates are set regionally in line with local costs of living and range from ¥714 ($6.46) to ¥932 ($8.43) per hour. Japan’s hourly minimum wage depends on the region. The highest being 985 Yen in Tokyo and the lowest being 761 Yen in Kagoshima.

For customers of Remote, all employee payments will be made in equal monthly installments on or before the last working day of each calendar month, payable in arrears.

We can help you get a new employee started in Japan fast. The minimum onboarding time we need is only 20 working days.

Our team ensures your employees are onboarded and paid as quickly as possible while keeping your business compliant with all local employment legislation. The minimum onboarding time begins after the employee submits all required information onto the Remote platform. The onboarding timeline is also dependent upon registration with local authorities.

For all non-nationals of the country of employment, the Right to Work assessment (if applicable) will add three extra days to the total time to onboard. There may be extra time required if we need to follow-up on the right to work assessment.

Please note, payroll cut-off dates can impact the actual first day of employment. Remote has a payroll cut-off date of the 10th of the month unless otherwise specified.

Employees earn paid vacation days based on their tenure, starting after they’ve spent six months working with an employer, and can accrue up to two years of paid vacation.

• 6 months: 10 days paid vacation
• 1.5 years: 11 days paid vacation
• 2.5 years: 12 days paid vacation
• 3.5 years: 14 days paid vacation
• 4.5 years: 16 days paid vacation
• 5.5 years: 18 days paid vacation
• 6.5 years: 20 days paid vacation
• Over 6.5 years: 20 days paid vacation

There are 16 public holidays in Japan and although it’s not obligatory for employers to pay employees on public holidays, it’s widely practiced.

Japanese employees are not explicitly entitled to any paid leave entitlement but can use their paid vacation in lieu of sick leave.

Female employees are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity starting six months before delivery and lasting until eight months, and are compensated at a rate equivalent to 2/3 of their normal salary, paid out by the labor insurance office.

New parents can embark on parental leave once maternity leave ends, until their child turns one, or one year and two months, if both partners opt for the parental leave.

Both parents are entitled to tax-exempt parental leave benefits equivalent to 2/3 of their normal wages, paid by the government labor insurance office. Male employees who have worked for the same employer for at least a year are entitled to 12 months paid leave.

• Bereavement leave: employees are entitled to five days of paid leave for the death of any 1st-degree relative, three days off for 2nd-degree relatives, and two days off for the death of 3rd-degree relatives.
• Hospitalization leave: Parents can take up to three unpaid months off annually to nurse sick or injured relatives.
• Menstruation leave: Employers are obligated to provide unpaid time off for female employees who opt out of work due to their health condition during their menstrual period. This is statutory leave mandated by government legislation.
• Civil duty leave: Workers can take unpaid time off work to vote, perform jury duty, or attend to their civil obligations.