Created by Takako Shimmachi
Employee benefits, wage trends, HR policy news for Japan SMEs, startups, and Edenred benchmarks
Explore the latest content tracked by Japan Benefits Watch
Yamanashi Prefecture's foreign worker welfare program receives praise yet faces low uptake, signaling potential challenges for SMEs tapping local initiatives to attract and retain talent amid Japan's labor shortages.
Dual-confirmed govt initiative targets mid-career 'ice age' generation (1990s grads) with 3-year intensive support through FY2028.
More Japanese companies are introducing sick-child care as an employee benefit, helping working parents returning from parental leave who struggle to find care.
Key highlights from today's FPCJ briefing for HR leaders:
Even Toyota can't fill factory jobs – how can SMEs compete?
Key highlights for HR pros tracking government-backed benefits:
Key HR takeaway for SMEs: Robots enable operations continuity amid shortages, not cost cuts.
Reviving on-site cafeterias is a game-changer for Japanese SMEs facing high food prices:
Toyota's strategy highlights large enterprise responses to labor shortages:
Google's death benefits redefine family security in total comp, applying from day one with no tenure requirement—a model for Japanese multinationals...
Talent shortage benchmark: Open House Group hikes 2026 new grad pay to ¥400k for 180 hires, vs typical ¥200k range.
Key takeaways from largest 4-day week study for HR pros benchmarking Microsoft Japan:
