April 2026 labour & social-welfare updates: pension threshold and employer duties
Key Questions
What is the new pension threshold for seniors starting April 2026?
Seniors can earn up to ¥620,000 per month without pension reductions. This pairs with employ-to-70 policies and exemptions up to ¥650,000. It encourages phased retirement and continued work.
Which companies must report gender pay gaps from April 2026?
Firms with 101 or more employees are required to report gender pay data. This is part of new labor law updates on transparency. It aims to address wage disparities.
What changes are coming to childcare premiums and child support enforcement?
Childcare premiums will add about ¥4,000 per year, with government subsidies for salary and asset garnishment in child support cases. The ¥1.3 million threshold is easing. Employers face new duties for child and elderly care.
What is Japan's national minimum wage for 2026, and how does it vary?
The national minimum wage is ¥1,121 per hour, with Tokyo at ¥1,226 and temps at ¥1,650. Social insurance adds ~15% to employer costs. These updates take effect April 2026.
What is the FY2026 state budget allocation for social security?
Japan's ¥122 trillion FY2026 budget, the largest ever at €664 billion equivalent, allocates 32% to social security. This secures pensions and welfare amid labor reforms. It was enacted to support updates like MHLW workers' comp.
Pension ¥620k/mo seniors, gender pay 101+ firms, child/elderly duties, exemption ¥650k; childcare premiums ~¥4k/yr + garnishment; social ins ~15%; 130万 easing; MHLW workers' comp; FY26 ¥122T budget (32% social security) enacted securing pensions/welfare; min wage ¥1,121/hr (Tokyo ¥1,226), temp ¥1,650/hr.