<P> After her case, the Abe administration pitched a conference to improve working condition in Japan . The first meeting was held in September, 2016 . In addition to that, the Japanese government announced their first report about over-worked death . According to this official announcement, 23% of the major companies in Japan have possibility of having illegal over-work . The Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Yasuhisa Shiozaki, who is responsible for labor standard inspection office, emphasized the importance of strengthening these sectors . Labor standard inspection office is now suffering from lack of manpower compared to the numbers of companies they need to investigate . After facing criticism from the public, Labor Standards Act No. 36 now faces the possibility of amendment, for it has proven its incompetence . Although many of the labor law are claimed to be amended, the social norm of Japan, including strong corporatism, are preventing these laws to be no more than self - imposed control and effort obligation . </P> <P> There is a growing shift in Japanese working conditions, due to both the government intervention as a result of declining birth rates and labor productivity, and companies competing for increasingly scarce numbers of workers due to a drop in the working - age population as a result of low birth rates . Many Japanese companies are reducing work hours and improving working conditions, including by providing amenities such as sports facilities and gyms . The Japanese government is pushing through a bill that would make it compulsory for employees to take a minimum of five days leave, and to ensure that high - income employees in certain sectors such as finance be paid according to performance rather than hours worked . </P>

How many hours do they work in japan