Japan

Japan Times | English | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Regulation

Japan’s government plans to expand the scope of information classified as specially designated secrets to include data critical to economic security. This change is part of a draft revision to the operational standards of the law on the protection of specially designated secrets, approved by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's policy division and expected to be adopted by the Cabinet by the end of 2025.

The revision represents the second update to the operational standards, which are reviewed every five years. It aims to strengthen information security by integrating the specially designated secrets system with the security clearance program introduced earlier in 2025. This program certifies individuals for access to critical information.

Initially implemented in 2014, the law on specially designated secrets covers four areas: defense, diplomacy, espionage prevention, and terrorism prevention. It seeks to prevent leaks by imposing stricter penalties. The new draft calls for more rigorous assessments of individuals seeking security clearance, including continuous monitoring of their social life and swift reassessment if security risks emerge.

高市首相指示で「風前のともしび」 来春の労基法改正、論点と思惑

Mainichi Shimbun | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Regulation

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's directive in October 2025 has put the planned revisions to Japan's Labor Standards Act under significant uncertainty. Originally, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare aimed to submit a bill for amendments in the ordinary Diet session next spring following a five-year review of Work Style Reform laws. However, Takaichi's instruction to consider loosening regulations on working hours has forced a restart of the ongoing discussions at the Labor Policy Council.

Since January 2025, the council, composed of representatives of workers, employers, and experts, had been debating key issues such as banning consecutive work periods longer than 14 days, revising premium pay calculations for side or multiple jobs, and strengthening interval-between-shifts rules. The overtime work cap was not a major point of contention as employers did not seek its relaxation. Takaichi’s sudden directive to ease working hours regulations, reportedly reflecting business and Liberal Democratic Party requests, lacks detail on what changes are intended.

This ambiguity has fueled widespread concern, especially about potentially relaxing the current overtime limits, which are set at 45 hours per month and 360 hours per year, with stricter thresholds to prevent overwork-related deaths. Following the directive, strong opposition emerged from groups including families of karoshi victims, worried about increased risks of overwork as industries facing labor shortages push for more flexible limits. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has received no further clarification from the prime minister on the directive’s specifics.

「ＯＴＣ類似薬」、自維に隔たり 保険適用維持か、原則除外か

Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News | Dec. 12, 2025 | Regulation

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin) held discussions on social security reform focused on the insurance coverage for "OTC-like drugs," which have ingredients and effects similar to over-the-counter drugs. The Japan Innovation Party proposed removing these drugs from public health insurance coverage to reduce medical expenses, advocating that patients bear the full cost. In contrast, the LDP recommended maintaining insurance coverage but increasing out-of-pocket payments to avoid a sudden burden shift on the public. A gap remains between the parties on the approach to managing patient costs.

Both parties agreed to gradually implement changes beginning with the next fiscal year, reflecting a phased review process over several years. Details on the specific patient burden amounts will be debated within the parties, with the goal of reaching a consensus during future LDP–Ishin talks. This review is intended to alleviate insurance premium pressures on the working population.

The article also references reactions from opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), which expressed concern about potential increases in patient costs and called for patient input before excluding OTC-like drugs from insurance coverage. Other political topics mentioned include disputes over seat reduction bills and tax donation caps, but these are separate from the main discussion on OTC-like drug insurance reform.