Key Facts
• Yamaguchi Labor Bureau investigated 331 workplaces in 2024 for suspected long working hours.
• 127 workplaces (38.4%) were found to have illegal overtime practices.
• 59 workplaces had employees exceeding 80 hours of overtime per month, the “karoshi line.”
• Among these, 32 workplaces had employees working over 100 hours, 6 over 150 hours, and 1 over 200 hours monthly.
• Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare defines “karoshi” risk as 100+ hours of overtime in 1 month or 80+ hours monthly over 2–6 months.
• In 2023, 37.7% of 289 workplaces investigated had illegal overtime; this rose by 0.7% in 2024.
• Other violations in 2024 included 15 cases of unpaid overtime and 56 workplaces failing to implement health measures against overwork.
• 245 workplaces received correctional recommendations, including 43 with improper labor time tracking.
• The Labor Bureau urged employers to follow labor laws and advised workers to consult local labor standards offices if needed.
Summary
The Yamaguchi Labor Bureau’s 2024 investigation revealed illegal overtime practices in 127 of 331 workplaces, with 59 exceeding the “karoshi line” of 80 hours per month. Severe cases included 32 workplaces with over 100 hours, 6 with over 150 hours, and 1 exceeding 200 hours. Compared to 2023, the rate of violations increased by 0.7%. Additional issues included unpaid overtime and lack of health measures against overwork. The Bureau issued correctional recommendations to 245 workplaces and emphasized the importance of adhering to labor laws, urging workers to seek help if needed.
