How will the Japanese government's "mandatory remote work" policy, which is set to be implemented starting in 2025, actually change things?

In 2025, the Japanese government will fully implement a new work policy that mandates remote work for public institutions and large corporations. This is a key strategy to address Japan's long-term population decline and workforce health issues, and it is expected to fundamentally change the traditional office-centric work structure. While the specific criteria and corporate responses will vary, the government plans to increase the remote work ratio to over 60% on average across all companies by 2030.

Which companies are subject to the mandatory remote work policy?

The "companies subject to the mandatory remote work policy" designated by the government include public institutions, large corporations (with 500 or more employees), and public institutions under the jurisdiction of local governments, as well as over 300,000 small and medium-sized enterprises across the country. Starting in April 2025, government agencies and public service providers will be the first to implement the policy, with large and medium-sized enterprises gradually following suit after 2026. In particular, public institutions in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya will be required to implement remote work for at least three days a week starting in 2025.

How is the number of remote work days determined?

The mandatory remote work policy stipulates a minimum of three days of remote work per week, and the "method for calculating remote work days" varies from company to company. For example, local government employees are required to work remotely for three days a week, while internal teams such as the IT or HR departments may be required to work remotely for up to five days a week, depending on the nature of their work. Conversely, manufacturing companies with production facilities have limited scope for remote work, and some may be classified as "functional remote work," which is not subject to the mandatory policy.

What conditions must companies meet to prepare for remote work?

There are three essential conditions that companies must fulfill to implement remote work:

• Establishment of security infrastructure: To protect employees' personal information and company data, two-factor authentication (2FA) is mandatory when accessing the internal network (company server).
• Equipment compensation policy: Company-provided equipment such as laptops and monitors will be replaced after at least one year of use (e.g., up to 300,000 yen will be subsidized for laptop purchases in 2025).
• Implementation of a work time management system: Installation of an electronic attendance recording system (e-Attendance) is mandatory. To prevent unauthorized early departures and manipulation of work hours during remote work, an automatic screen recording and workload analysis system is also recommended.

How will welfare and benefits change due to remote work?

The introduction of remote work is leading to a significant shift in the structure of employee welfare programs. In particular, the following changes are expected to become more widespread after 2025:

• Revision of transportation allowance insurance system: Transportation allowance will be provided up to 5,000 yen per month depending on the number of remote work days (e.g., 15,000 yen per month for three days a week).
• Remote work-specific welfare points: Companies will introduce "remote work points," with an additional 25% bonus for employees who work in the office for less than 300,000 yen per year.
• Expansion of family care support: Employees who need to care for children or elderly relatives will receive a family allowance of up to 80,000 yen per month when working remotely (as of 2025, including tax deductions).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will employees be monitored for non-work activities (e.g., cooking, going out) during remote work? A. Monitoring is strictly limited. Legally, "monitoring of non-work activities during remote work" is prohibited. The electronic attendance system is only used to record start and end times and calculate workload. However, some companies operate AI-based systems to measure work concentration, but prior consent and information disclosure requests are mandatory.

Q. Does the mandatory remote work policy also apply to small and medium-sized enterprises? A. All companies with 50 or more employees are subject to the policy. However, implementation is gradual and involves submitting a "plan" and undergoing an "execution evaluation." As of 2025, the average remote work adoption rate for small and medium-sized enterprises is around 40%, and the government provides subsidies of up to 200 million yen per year to support this.

Q. Is the company liable if an accident occurs during remote work? A. The company is responsible for compensating for work-related accidents that occur during remote work (e.g., computer failure, electrical problems). In particular, companies are required to provide battery replacement or repair services within 24 hours if equipment fails during remote work, and companies must submit a report on the incident within three days.

Key Summary

• Mandatory remote work of at least three days a week will be implemented starting in April 2025 for public institutions and large corporations.
• The policy applies to over 300,000 companies, including public institutions and companies with 50 or more employees.
• Establishing security infrastructure, implementing an equipment compensation policy, and installing an electronic attendance system are essential requirements for companies.

※ Detailed application forms and subsidy application procedures can be found on the official website of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (https://www.mhlw.go.jp), which also provides a Korean guide.