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2026-04-01
Social Insurance Coverage Expanded!
From April 2026, part-timers working 20+ hours/week at companies with 51+ employees must join social insurance (health insurance + pension).
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2025-10-01Work
💴 Minimum Wage Hits National Average of ¥1,121!
All 47 prefectures exceed ¥1,000/hr for the first time — Effective October 2025
¥1,121
National avg
47
All prefectures
+¥66
Increase
¥1,000+
Floor
❓ What changed?
From October 2025, Japan's national weighted average minimum wage rose from ¥1,055 to ¥1,121 (+¥66, the largest increase ever). All 47 prefectures exceeded ¥1,000/hr for the first time — even Akita, the lowest, went from ¥951 to ¥1,025. This directly impacts hourly wages for foreign part-time and temporary workers.
👥 Who's most affected
- ●Foreign part-time and temporary workers
- ●Specified Skilled Workers in food service, agriculture, etc.
- ●Working Holiday visa holders
- ●Technical Intern Trainees (local minimum wage applies)
🗾 Watch for prefectural differences
Minimum wage varies by prefecture. Tokyo is ¥1,163, Osaka ¥1,114, and even the lowest (Iwate) is ¥1,001. If you move or change jobs to a different prefecture, the applicable minimum wage changes too.
💡 Key points to know
1Amounts differ by prefecture — check your workplace's local rate
2Monthly or daily wages must also meet minimum when converted to hourly
3Employers violating minimum wage face fines (up to ¥500,000)
4Contact the local Labour Bureau for wage consultations
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