Which Japanese law established the country’s modern statutory minimum-wage system in 1959?

Japan’s modern statutory minimum-wage system was established by the Minimum Wage Act of 1959.

The act provided the legal framework for setting minimum wages in Japan through regional and industry-based mechanisms. Rather than beginning with one identical wage for every prefecture, the system developed around local wage boards and minimum rates that could reflect regional economic conditions.

Japan’s minimum-wage rates are expressed per hour and are revised through a process involving the Central Minimum Wage Council and prefectural councils. The central council offers guidance, while prefectural authorities determine regional rates within the national framework.

The Minimum Wage Act should not be confused with Japan’s Labor Standards Act, which sets broad employment standards such as working hours, rest periods, and wage-payment rules. Minimum-wage law addresses the wage floor specifically, while the Labor Standards Act covers a wider range of workplace protections.