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Since April 2024, Japanese Work Contracts Must Spell Out Three More Things

"We might transfer you elsewhere later" — now that "elsewhere" has to be written down from the start.

Since April 2024, Japanese Work Contracts Must Spell Out Three More Things
  • Since April 1, 2024, employers must state the scope of changes to both work location and job duties.
  • Fixed-term contracts must state renewal criteria, including any cap on total duration or number of renewals.
  • Both scope-of-change items must be given IN WRITING, both at signing and at renewal.

The new rule since 2024

A familiar situation for Vietnamese workers in Japan: you sign a contract to work at Factory A, then a few months later you're told to transfer to Factory B, two hours away by train.

Ask why, and you're told, "It says right in your contract that the company may transfer you."

But since April 1, 2024, that kind of vague wording is no longer enough on its own.

Three items that must be spelled out

First, the scope of how far your assigned duties may change. Second, the scope of how far your work location may change. Third, for fixed-term contracts, the renewal criteria — including any cap on total contract length or the number of renewals allowed, if such a cap exists.

The "scope" here isn't just your situation right after joining — it covers the whole contract period, including the possibility of future transfers. In other words, the company must tell you in advance where it might transfer you and what work it might assign you.

The two scope-of-change items must be provided IN WRITING, both when signing and when renewing a fixed-term contract. If the employee prefers, they may receive it by email instead of paper — but that's the employee's choice, not the company's to make.

A corresponding rule also applies to job postings and to job placement agencies — meaning this information must be available from the moment you're still job-hunting, not just on the day you sign.

What to say to request it

Could I get a written notice of my employment conditions?

Words in this article

労働条件ろうどうじょうけん
working conditions
明示めいじ
clear statement
就業場所しゅうぎょうばしょ
workplace
変更の範囲へんこうのはんい
scope of change
有期労働契約ゆうきろうどうけいやく
fixed-term employment contract
更新こうしん
renewal
通知書つうちしょ
notice document

Notes

If the paperwork you're holding doesn't include these items, that's worth raising with your employer — or with your local labor bureau.

This article was checked on September 20, 2026.

Source: 厚生労働省 (20 Sept 2026)