MINISTRY OF Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare HEALTH, LABOUR Service Guide AND WELFARE 2 0 2 0 For people, for life, for the future

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Chuo Godo Chosha 5 go-kan, 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8916

Ministry Of Health, Labour And Welfare Tel: 03-5253-1111 (Main switchboard) https://www.mhlw.go.jp/ Ministry Of Health, Labour And Welfare Message from the Vice-Minister Contents

The expression “from the cradle to the grave” is often used to describe services provided by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) since 03 Work that supports people’s entire lives it serves all citizens and supports a life of each and every individual in the 05 Health Policy Bureau country. 07 Health Service Bureau The MHLW’s work covers a wide range of fields including health care, public health, long-term care, childcare support, pension programs, labor relations and 09 Pharmaceutical Safety and Environmental Health Bureau welfare, and services provided by the Ministry are closely related to people’s 11 Labor Standards Bureau lives. The MHLW is committed to creating a society in which all people, including men and women, young and old, persons with disabilities and people 13 Employment Security Bureau with incurable diseases, can play active roles. Meanwhile, officials are working to protect the health and lives of all citizens, create a safe environment for 15 Employment Environment and Equal Employment Bureau everyone to live comfortably and secure jobs for all. 17 Child and Family Policy Bureau

The MHLW deals with various duties: protecting society and people’s lives 19 Social Welfare and War Victims’ Relief Bureau from infectious diseases such as COVID-19, maintaining the nation’s universal healthcare ana pension systems, leading the world as one of the heathiest 21 Health and Welfare Bureau for the Elderly countries and trying to create a community in which people can live more 23 Health Insurance Bureau fulfilling and satisfying lives. Those duties are dynamic and come with great responsibilities. The Ministry is also working hard every day to make Japanese 25 Pension Bureau society better for all. 27 Director-General for Human Resources Development Japan faces challenges unparalleled in its history—the declining birthrate 29 Director-General for General Policy and Evaluation and rapidly aging, shrinking population. Under that circumstances, the MHLW plays a significant role in tackling such demographic challenges and has a 31 Director-General for Statistics, Information Policy and Policy Evaluation great responsibility for its duties. Approximately 36 trillion yen is allocated for the MHLW every year. This accounts for more than half of the general 32 Minister’s Secretariat expenditures. Some 32,000 officials at the MHLW will continue making efforts to 35 Organization Chart maintain public trust and working hard for all so that people living now feel grateful to have been born in Japan and people in generations to come will feel the same.

Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare SUZUKI Toshihiko

1Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 2 The mission of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) is to create a society in which children grow up healthy and people live their lives to the fullest with their loved ones. Work that supports people’s entire lives The MHLW is promoting various measures through social security and labor policies as it Every stage of life with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare serves all citizens, supporting a life of each and every individual in the country. The aim is to provide a basis for social and economic development now and in the future.

Pharmaceutical and Ensuring working Health promotion/ Medical care food safety conditions Employment policies disease control Pension Passing the world-acclaimed health Protecting working conditions, Realizing “intergenerational Aiming at insurance system to Ensuring pharmaceutical and safety, and security of Supporting everyone who is Supporting and protecting support” that will continue for the “ideal medical care” future gerations food safety workplaces willing to work health for all people next 100 years

Health Policy P5 Health Insurance P23 Pharmaceutical Safety P9 Labor Standards P11 Employment Security P13 Health Service Bureau P7 Pension Bureau P25 Bureau Bureau and Environmental Bureau Bureau Health Bureau

Infants Children/students Adults Marriage/childbirth/childcare Retirement Post-retirement

Support for children Support for persons with Vocational skills Improvement of and childcare disabilities/social welfare development employment environment Long-term care and relief assistance Supporting human resource Creating a diverse Toward a society in which people Supporting child-rearing development to realize a society employment environment in can live as they like in their generations to protect Realizing a regionally in which everyone can play which everyone can play an hometown regardless of age children's smiling faces cohesive society active role active role

Child and Family P17 Social Welfare and P19 Director-General for P27 Employment P15 Health and Welfare P21 Policy Bureau War Victims’ Relief Human Resources Environment and Equal Bureau for the Elderly Bureau Development Employment Bureau

3Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 4 Health Policy Bureau

How does one feel when they or their loved ones become ill? While feeling sad and anxious, many are likely to wish to cure the disease and continue Health Policy Aiming at an Our Mission to work and live with their families until their final days. For this reason, great expectations are placed on medical care. The Health Policy Bureau “ideal medical care” aims to realize ideal medical care for individuals by applying all necessary Bureau measures, including optimizing a functional balance between doctors and hospitals, implementing effective medical care using the latest technologies, and developing the pharmaceutical industry, etc.

Policy

Fields under its jurisdiction Supporting community life Promotion of innovations in the pharmaceutical and medical While many people wish to “continue to live in their device industries Ensuring to deliver necessary medical care familiar hometown with their families and friends even after As Japan is one of the few countries developing new drugs and has cutting-edge The Bureau is working to develop communities in which becoming ill”, their wishes may not be fulfilled due to issues manufacturing technologies, the pharmaceutical and medical device industry is people can receive medical care without undue worries such as having no medical institutions that they can consult expected to bear economic growth in the future. In recent years, aiming to support by promoting cooperation between hospitals and clinics, with when they have concerns and having no doctors who venture companies that play an important role in leading advanced scientific eliminating the shortage of doctors, and establishing will come to their home to provide medical care, etc. As the technologies to create innovative pharmaceuticals, etc., the Bureau is supporting disaster medical care systems, etc. country’s population ages rapidly, more people are expected to face such issues. To confront that reality, the Ministry medical ventures by providing consultation on issues in each development stage and Development of world top level human needs to take steps to provide better health care services formulating business strategies, etc. resources that help people lead satisfying lives. The Bureau is In addition, the Bureau continues challenge to develop the pharmaceutical and therefore working on how to develop various medical care medical device industry by promoting safe use or utilization of the so-called “real The Bureau always pays attention to issues surrounding Matching event between venture companies and systems such as emergency care and rehabilitation, how to medical care and reviews curriculums, etc. in a speedy world data” such as medical record data, etc. and making focused efforts to develop major companies, etc. secure clinics that will provide home medical care, and how manner that leads to a quality improvement of doctors a development environment for innovative products. to remedy the disparity of doctors in certain regions. and nurses, who are supporting our high-level medical care. Work-style reform for doctors Hot Topics

Opening the way to the future with While work-style reform for the entire society is Global expansion of Japanese medical care research and development advancing, it is important to reduce the burden of doctors as long working hours has become the norm. Thus, the Bureau The Bureau supports research and development by The Bureau contributes to improving the standard of medical care in other is discussing the balance between reducing working hours specialized institutions to realize potent and effective countries by delivering and experiences of Japan’s medical care to the world. of doctors and securing regional medical care by reviewing drugs and medical devices, regenerative medicine, and The Bureau cooperates with 25 countries and conducts projects mainly to the division of roles between doctors and other medical genomic medicine. support health policy formation and to develop human resources. The MHLW workers (task shifting or task sharing), and supporting provides medical training with Japanese medical technologies and introducing hospital management reform, etc. This work-style reform will Japanese healthcare systems based on the issues and needs identified during Strengthening medical industry bring significant impact not only to doctors all over Japan but our visits to these countries. Therefore, the MHLW plays a role of a bridge The Bureau strongly supports the pharmaceutical and also to the future of regional medical care. The Bureau will between Japan and the world in the fields of healthcare. The achievements of medical device industry that is expected to lead the work on these medium- to long-term measures from both our continuous efforts have emerged in various areas, such as the improvement economic growth in Japan by utilizing all possible tools, systemic and budgetary aspects. of cancer treatment technology and promotion of health screening. Conference between Japan and Russia including systemic, budgetary, and taxation tools.

Disaster medical care system Creating a better world with Japanese medical care In Japan where natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons The Bureau is contributing to help people globally to live frequently occur, medical care systems capable of responding sufficiently in a better life in good health by disseminating medical times of disasters, etc. are essential for protecting people’s lives. And the technologies and medical care systems, which Japan is importance is increasing even further in recent years when Japan suffered so rightfully proud of, through active exchange with large-scale disasters one after the other. The Bureau therefore is devoting government officials and experts from other countries. efforts to establish “core disaster hospitals” and to train disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs). During disasters, they want to assist in providing stable hospital operations and securing supply of medicines, etc. with utmost efforts in cooperation with relevant organizations and prefectures, etc. Activities of disaster medical assistance team (DMAT) at disaster site

5Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 6 Health Service Bureau

In anticipation of a 100-year life society, the Health Service Bureau is Supporting and aiming to enable everyone to play an active longer and healthy role with the extension of life expectancy. While the birthrate is declining and the Health Service Our Mission protecting health for all population aging, they are working on health and disease prevention promotion, cancer control measures, and intractable or rare disease Bureau people measures, etc. to secure bearers of social security. The Bureau is also working to respond to infectious diseases occurring domestically and abroad, and contribute to international health.

Policy

Fields under its jurisdiction Toward a society without unwanted Preventing the occurrence/spread of Hot Topics exposure to second-hand smoke infectious diseases to support the safety Disease prevention/health promotion Eliminating discrimination against Hansen’s disease The Bureau promotes lifestyle disease prevention, etc. Being exposed to smoke generated from tobacco and security of the people Hansen’s disease is a disease of low infectivity and for with the aim of creating a society in which people’s healthy smoked by someone else is referred to as “second-hand Due to the accelerated international travel of people and which effective treatment methods have been established. life expectancies are smoke”. Exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk goods across the national borders, the risk of infectious Therefore, it can be cured with an appropriate treatment extended and of lung cancer, etc. diseases such as avian influenza and Ebola hemorrhagic without any aftereffects. However, because of inappropriate everyone can play Taking Tokyo 2020 Olympic/Paralympic Games as an fever, etc. is increasing. The Bureau has been working to institutionalization measures by the government in the past, an active role longer opportunity, the revised Health Promotion Act was fully prevent entry of infectious diseases by reinforcing functions of patients, former patients, and their families have long been and healthily. enforced in April 2020 to prevent unwanted exposure to quarantine stations and to strengthen proper responses by suffering pain and hardship due to discrimination and Disease prevention/ second-hand smoke. administrative/medical institutions to domestic occurrences. prejudice. Through consultations with relevant parties, etc., health promotion The Bureau These efforts are further strengthened for the Tokyo 2020 the Bureau is working on government-wide efforts to efforts are also made promotes measures Olympic/Paralympic Games. eliminate the existing discrimination and prejudice completely. with the involvement that lead to health The Bureau strives to promote correct knowledge about of enterprises and 8th “Smart Life Project Award(Let’s extend promotion of the healthy life expectancy!)” (NOMURA Mansai, infectious diseases and preventive measures such as communities by “Smart Life Project 2019 official character”) people. vaccinations, etc. among people in peace time to ensure safety developing an environment for healthy diet and and security. appropriate exercise, etc. In particular, in response to the increase in the number of rubella patients since around July 2018, the Bureau has Cancer control measures compiled, and has been promoting, a new measure to conduct The Bureau has been promoting efforts to overcome cancer antibody tests and vaccination in combination for males who so that people can prevent avoidable cancer by having did not have opportunities to receive regular vaccination under appropriate knowledge about cancer and so that patients the Preventive Vaccinations Act. can receive reliable and reasonable cancer treatment and Furthermore, for antimicrobial resistant organisms, which support anywhere, anytime according to various symptoms Poster for raising public have been a global issue in recent years, the Bureau has been of cancer, and continue to live with respect. awareness on measures against exposure to leading other second-hand smoke Prime Minister Abe and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kato countries in taking participating in the Hansen’s Disease “Global Appeal 2020” Infectious disease measures antimicrobial In order to protect people from infectious diseases that Understanding and aiming to overcome resistance (AMR) Tokyo Nutrition Summit threaten mankind across national boundaries, the cancer measures, including Bureau is working to strengthen quarantine systems, addressing it and Through nutrition policies that combine food, human Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Japan thoroughly provide vaccinations, promote research and compiling control resources, and evidence, Japan has been promoting since 1981. Fifty percent of the people are estimated to development of therapeutic drugs, and ensure measures as the chair efforts to deal with undernutrition due to food shortage suffer from cancer once in their life. Cancer remains an appropriate use of antibiotics, etc. of the G20 Labor and after the World War II, overnutrition associated with important issue in people’s lives and health. Employment economic growth, and, in recent years, “double burden The Bureau therefore promotes various measures, Intractable/rare disease measures Ministers' Conference of malnutrition” meaning the occurrence of both including recommendation to receive cancer screening, The Bureau is working on subsidizing medical treatment held in Japan in 2019. undernutrition and overnutrition within individuals, expenses, promoting early diagnosis and developing promotion of cancer genomic medicine, and support for household and population, and across the life-course. suitable medical environments, and promoting research balancing cancer treatment and work, etc., based on the The Bureau is preparing for the Tokyo Nutrition Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs, which is for the development of therapies to enable people with Poster for raising public Summit to be held in Japan in the future so as to be rare diseases for which effective treatments have yet to the basis for cancer control measures. awareness on rubella able to contribute to the promotion of international control measures have been established to live with a sense of security in The Bureau will continue to make utmost efforts to nutrition improvement efforts and achievement of their communities while continuing long-term recuperation. overcome cancer. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

7Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 8 Environmental Health Bureau Pharmaceutical Safety and

Pharmaceutical The Bureau is working to ensure quality, efficacy, and safety of Ensuring pharmaceuticals, etc. and to prevent the occurrence/expansion of health Safety and Our Mission risks through approval reviews and safety measures of pharmaceutical and pharmaceuticals/medical devices manufactured and sold in Japan and by Environmental development of pharmacy/pharmacist systems. The Bureau is also working to make people’s lives safer and more hygienic through formulation of food Health Bureau food safety standards, supervision/guidance, and the provision of safe tap water, etc.

Policy

Delivering cutting-edge drugs/medical devices, Fields under its jurisdiction appropriate implementation of measures against food poisoning, etc. to medical sites ahead of any other country including obligation of all business operators, in principle, to Hot Topics implement hygiene control based on HACCP (a method for Ensuring safety of pharmaceuticals/ Growth of the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, analyzing, assessing, and controlling hazards such as Supporting health at pharmacies which are knowledge-intensive and high value-added industries, as medical devices food-poisoning bacterial well as progress of regenerative medicine technologies, that Japan A system has been created and promoted to allow Through approval/certification reviews and safety contamination and mixing of is a leading country in the world, are one of the important pillars of pharmacies that can broadly accept consultations on measures, etc., the Bureau ensures the quality, efficacy, foreign objects, etc. in the the Growth Strategies. Japan used to have a problem of the drug food manufacturing process) health maintenance to be listed as “health support and safety of pharmaceuticals/medical devices with the and device lag, the time between when medications and devices are and revising approval pharmacies”. In addition to health support pharmacies, broad range of properties and forms. approved in foreign countries and when they are finally available in systems to reorganize types the Bureau is working to develop an environment in Japan. By the government efforts to speed up the approval process of businesses and establish for pharmaceuticals and medical devises, the problem is a thing of which patients can choose pharmacies that suit their Development of pharmacy/pharmacist facility standards, etc. the past. Japan now promotes efforts to introduce new needs such as The Bureau is also systems pharmaceuticals and cutting-edge medical devices that will benefit creating a new working on market The Bureau aims to promote appropriate use of patients before they are launched in other countries. system to certify distribution of food that meets the needs, including the What is more, as robotics, artificial intelligence and genomic pharmacies that can pharmaceuticals and to realize an environment in which establishment of standards on hygiene control of liquid milk that technologies are widely available and regenerative medicine people can receive safe and secure pharmaceutical allows babies to take necessary nutrients in times of disasters, etc. handle specialized therapies through planning/designing of technology advances, more and more companies are accelerating pharmaceutical pharmacy/pharmacist systems, etc. the development of new products that will push the envelope. management for In response to such trends, the Bureau is working to create an Preventing drug abuse to promote cancer, etc. as appropriate use environment that enables manufacturers and appropriate use for medical care, etc. “specialized medical Ensuring food safety pharmaceutical companies to develop safe and high-quality products Abuse of drugs such as narcotics, stimulants, and cannabis, etc. institution cooperation pharmacies”. Food safety in Japan is ensured by flexibly responding and receive approval for them smoothly so that those products will can be a significant problem not only for the abusers themselves but to progress in food-related science and technology, become available in clinical practice as quickly as possible. also for their families and society. globalization of food distribution, and diversification of The Bureau therefore implements regulations based on the Border control measures to protect Japan dietary habits, etc. Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act, etc. in cooperation with the Narcotics Control Departments within their respective Regional In preparation for expected increase in the number of Ensuring safe tap water Bureaus of Health and Welfare and narcotics agents to ensure that foreign nationals visiting Japan associated with the the use of drugs is limited for medical purposes and illegal The Bureau operates water supply-related systems holding of the Tokyo Olympic/Paralympic Games, distribution is prohibited. border control measures have been taken to prevent such as business licenses for water supply services and Taking into consideration that the abuse of cannabis is spreading pathogens of infectious diseases that do not normally formulation of water quality standards, provides financial among the young in recent years, the Bureau is also working to exist in Japan from entering the country at borders, support for making earthquake-resistant water pipes, disseminate appropriate knowledge on drugs such as cannabis, etc. and handles damages from water supply disruption in Furthermore, to ensure that medical narcotics are appropriately including carrying times of disaster. Surgeon console Patient cart Vision cart used for patients at medical institutions, the Bureau makes efforts to out examinations DaVinci (endoscopic surgery support device) ©2020 Intuitive Surgical, Inc. create and disseminate guidelines that befit their use. such as body temperature Development of environmental health measurement using industries, etc. Improving food hygiene levels and thermography upon In addition to hygiene regulations and promotion of promoting international standardization entry. environmental health industries, including qualification The Bureau is working to ensure that people can enjoy what they The Bureau is system for barbers/beauticians and approval system for eat without undue worries by setting the standards on additives, and also working to “Quaran”, an image character for hotels/inns, etc., the Bureau is also responsible for production methods, etc. based on scientific evidence, providing ensure safety of quarantine stations ensuring a healthy environment in buildings, etc. supervision and instruction on domestically traded products, and imported foods by examining imported foods to see making efforts in securing safety of imported food. whether they comply with the regulations based on In the revision of the Food Sanitation Act in FY2018, in order to the Food Sanitation Act. improve hygiene levels, etc., systems were revised for a more

9 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 10 Labor Standards Bureau

The mission of the Labor Standards Bureau is to support the development Protecting working of workplace environments where people can work satisfactorily in a safe and secure manner from the viewpoints of workers. While the environment Labor surrounding medical care that is undergoing a drastic change, including a conditions, safety, and Our Mission decrease in the labor population due to the progress in the declining birthrate and in the aging of the population, and given technological Standards security of workplaces innovations, etc., it has become increasingly important to create an environment in which workers can choose diverse work styles and fully utilize their motivation/abilities. Therefore, the Bureau will carry out Bureau “work-style reform”, including the correction of long working hours and realization of diverse and flexible work styles, etc.

Policy

Correcting long working hours through Fields under its jurisdiction regulations to ensure that they understand and observe “work-style reform” them. If any violation is found, the inspectors instruct the Hot Topics enterprise concerned to correct it immediately. Furthermore, Ensuring working conditions The work-style reform-related laws were established at a Promoting side jobs and multiple jobs in case of serious/vicious violations, the inspectors conduct The Bureau is working to ensure the minimum regular Diet session in 2018, realizing a revision of the investigations as criminal cases and send each case to the standards of working conditions, including working Labor Standards Act for the first time in 70 years. In order to respond to workers’ needs such as “wanting Public Prosecutors Office. hours and wages stipulated by the Labor Standards Act For workers, work-style reform leads to an improvement to broadly utilize one’s own abilities without being limited to Through these efforts, the Bureau is working to realize a and the Minimum Wage Act, etc. in work-life balance, and for enterprises, creation of an one company” or “wishing to improve one’s skills”, the society in which the statutory working conditions are attractive workplace environment where people can Bureau is working to develop an environment in which they ensured and workers can live with a sense of security. Labor contract rules comfortably work can lead to improvement in productivity can engage in side jobs and multiple jobs. The Bureau is and securing of future human resources. informing and enlightening workers and enterprises by The Bureau establishes the basic rules (regulations to The provisions concerning working hours such as the formulating guidelines which compile matters requiring be applied when employers dismiss workers, etc.) to upper limit of overtime work were enforced in April 2019 for attention for them and revising the model rules of ensure smooth conclusion, alteration, and termination, large enterprises and in April 2020 for small and employment (template presented to be used as a reference etc. of labor contracts between employers and workers. medium-sized enterprises. for enterprises in formulating the rules of employment). The Bureau is working to make it well known in a careful Support for wage increase manner by taking various support measures, including the Support for balancing medical treatment and work In order to develop an environment in which small and provision of support at consultation contact points, holding of medium-sized enterprises can easily increase wages for briefings, and With aging, etc., the people are of workers who their workers, the Bureau provides support such as establishment of continue to work while receiving treatment for diseases is expected to increase. Under such circumstances, the consultation support for productivity and business subsidy systems, etc., Consultation contact point of Labor Standards Inspection Office improvement and subsidies, etc. to have small and Bureau is working to develop and make known a medium-sized Aiming at a society with zero accidents support system for balancing treatment and work, Safe and secure workplace environment enterprises nationwide including changing awareness of enterprises and (zero industrial accidents) promoting cooperation with relevant parties, including In order to create an environment where people can understand the The annual number of cases of injuries at workplaces enterprises and medical institutions, etc., to achieve a work in a safe and secure manner, the Bureau is importance of exceeds 120,000 persons a year, with the number of resulting society which people can continue to work while working to prevent accidents and death from overwork work-style reform and deaths continues to be close to 1,000. receiving treatment for diseases. at work sites, ensure mental health, and provide support observe the provisions There are as countlessly many safety and health-related for balancing medical treatment and work, etc. of the laws. issues at work sites as there are work sites, including “death from overwork” and “mental disorders” due to long working Workers' accident compensation hours, etc. and “occupational cancer” from harmful substances, insurance system Poster for work-style reform etc. In order to prevent Workers' accident compensation insurance provides such industrial accidents necessary compensation when workers are involved in and protect safety and an industrial accident during work or while commuting or Protecting working conditions for workers health of workers, the when workers suffer mental disorders due to stress from at work sites Bureau is working on work, etc. measures that respond to The working conditions, including minimum wages and the changes in work working hours, etc., are stipulated in the Labor Standards environments, including Act, etc. “Labor standards inspectors” play the important role the aging of society, of instructing enterprises to comply with these laws and advancement of science regulations at their work sites. and technology, and the Labor standards inspectors visit enterprises and carefully shift to services industries. explain the purpose and content of these laws and Inspection of a machine at a work site

11 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 12 Employment Security Bureau

As a safety net for employment, the Bureau aims to realize a society in which each worker can create his/her own future and in which diverse opportunities are provided to people with motivation by implementing (1) Employment Supporting everyone Our Mission job placement services utilizing nationwide network, (2) employment who is willing to work insurance system to provide workers with income compensation when they Security Bureau become unemployed, and (3) employment measures toward the realization of “work-style reform” in an integrated manner through over 500 Hello Work offices nationwide.

Policy

Promoting labor shortage measures Fields under its jurisdiction measures for all people wishing to work until age 65. In Hot Topics While the employment conditions are steadily improving, addition, the Bureau is working to provide subsidies to Nationwide job placement services the number of job applications remains significantly larger companies that have extended continued employment for Establishment of dedicated contact points for people older than 65 or that have extended mandatory The Bureau is working to match job seekers with than the number of job openings, and there has been a the employment of the “ice age” generation recruiting companies by providing close employment serious labor shortage in companies. retirement age, etc., to provide support to elderly job consultations and job place services, etc. to both of In order to support enterprises in securing of human seekers through ageless support contact points at Hello In order to support the employment of the so-called them at Hello Work offices. resources, the Bureau promotes focused matching support Work offices, etc., and secure diverse employment “ice age” generation, who have various issues such as at Hello Work offices to provide consultations for fulfilling job opportunities at Silver Human Resource Centers, etc. “a lack of job histories” and “not being confident about Operating employment insurance systems openings and implement close employment support for job oneself due to failing in seeking jobs”, etc., meticulous seekers in the areas of labor shortage. Acceptance and adaptation of foreign employment support has been implemented to respond In order to stabilize people’s lives and employment and In addition, in order to support companies’ efforts to to individual issues. Dedicated contact points have been promote employment, unemployment benefits are human resources promote their workers’ adaptation to the workplace, the established at Hello Work offices with a team consisting provided to those who are unemployed or who took In April 2018, acceptance of foreign human resources Bureau provides them with support such as providing of expert staff members from the respective child/family care leave or are receiving was introduced with a new residential status “Specified subsidies when they implement measures to improve departments on career consultation and vocational education/training, etc. Skilled Worker”. Toward the realization of a society in which employment management and productivity, etc. training, etc. Japanese and foreign nationals, whose number is expected Planning of employment measures to increase in the future, can live together, the “Comprehensive Measures to Accept and Live Together Promotion of employment for persons with disabilities The Bureau analyzes the employment indices such as with Foreign Human Resources”, a cross-sectional the unemployment rate and active job government policy package for the acceptance of foreign The Bureau is creating workplaces where persons openings-to-applications ratio, etc. to flexibly nationals in general and their livelihood and employment with disabilities can play more active roles. This will lead plan/implement employment measures. support, etc., have been compiled, with many MHLW-related to the realization of workplaces where not only persons measures also being included. with disabilities, but all people can work comfortably. The Bureau provides consistent support for persons Promoting active roles of diverse human Toward the development of an environment in which foreign workers can work without undue worries, the with disabilities wishing to be employed and companies resources Employment Security Bureau provides employment support intending to employ persons with disabilities, from the The Bureau promotes active roles of diverse human for foreign students and preparation stage for employment to workplace resources by supporting people having some difficulty in multi-language support adaptation. This is offered mainly at Hello Work offices being employed, including elderly people and persons to enable persons with Employment consultation at consultation contact with disabilities, etc., and by developing an environment points of Hello Work disabilities to play active for accepting foreign human resources. Realizing an “ageless society” offices. It is also working roles in workplaces. on activities to raise The Bureau also While the population is declining, it is important to realize Establishing labor market rules awareness of issues supports companies that a society in which elderly concerning foreign have measures to employ In order to promote matching between job seekers and people can utilize their nationals, etc. by persons with disabilities recruiting companies appropriately and smoothly, while experience and designating June as the by creating a system to utilizing the power of private companies, the Bureau is knowledge gained over “Month for Raising certify excellent establishing the rules for worker dispatching and job their years of work, Awareness of Issues companies that employ placement services. regardless of their age, Concerning Foreign persons with disabilities, according to their Workers” in cooperation etc. motivation. with relevant ministries Therefore, companies Poster for the Support Month for Poster for the Month for Raising and agencies, etc. are obligated to take Minister's Commendation at the Employment of Persons with “Elderly Employment Development Awareness of Issues Concerning Foreign Disabilities employment security Contest” (October 2019) Workers

13 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 14 Equal Employment Bureau Employment Environment and

Both workers and work styles are becoming more and more diverse. The Creating a diverse Bureau is working to promote a diverse employment environment in which Employment everyone can play an active role, including the development of a workplace employment environment Our Mission environment in which everyone can play active roles, improvement of an Environment and employment environment for non-regular workers such as part-time in which everyone can workers and fixed-term workers, achievement of good balance between Equal Employment work and child care or family care, promotion of more flexible work styles play an active role such as telework, and measures for realizing an affluent and stable work Bureau life, etc.

Policy

Promoting more active roles of women Bureau supports formulation of action plans, etc. based on Fields under its jurisdiction The number of female workers increased by the Act on Hot Topics Advancement of Developing a workplace environment in which approximately 2.88 million over the last six years, but the Measures to Support Strengthening measures against everyone can play an active role percentage of female managers, etc. is still lower than that of other countries. Raising workplace harassment The Bureau promotes a workplace environment in For this reason, the Act on Promotion of Female Next-Generation which everyone can utilize their abilities through The number of cases of consultations at Prefectural Participation and Career Advancement in the Workplace Children and promotes promotion of more active roles of women and Labor Bureaus concerning “bullying and harassment” in was revised in 2019 to further promote active roles of certification systems harassment prevention measures at workplaces, etc. workplaces was approximately 83,000 (FY2018), the women in workplaces by formulating action plans on active (Kurumin, etc.). highest among all consultations for seven consecutive roles of women, expanding the scope of companies with the Furthermore, the Improving an employment environment for years, and drastically strengthening measures against duty of information disclosure, strengthening information Bureau promotes the diverse work styles workplace bullying is expected by the society. disclosure, and creating the Platinum Eruboshi certification development of an The Bureau is working to improve treatment of non-regular Under such circumstances, system, etc. environment in which workers, including part-time workers and fixed-term workers, etc. laws were revised in 2019 to employees can easily obligate companies to take take annual paid Work-life balance support measures against workplace leave, etc. by The Bureau is working to create an environment in which work and bullying. In addition, measures providing examples of life can easily be balanced by encouraging workers to take various to prevent sexual harassment improving ways to Poster for raising public awareness on leaves, including child care leave and family care leave, etc. and harassment related to work and take leave. Ikumen Project pregnancy, childbirth, child Promoting flexible work styles Realizing “equal pay for equal work” care leave, family care leave, The Bureau is promoting telework that enables effective use of etc. are strengthened to time and place and ensures its appropriate implementation. The government promotes “work style reforms” for promote integrated measures realizing dynamic engagement of all citizens. The measure against workplace harassment. Realizing an affluent and stable work life that is positioned as one of the main pillars is realizing The Bureau is working to realize an affluent and stable work life “equal pay for equal work”. The Bureau aims to prohibit the Telework by enhancing retirement allowance of small and medium-sized irrational differences in treatment between non-regular enterprises and improving welfare benefits for workers such as workers, which Telework refers to a flexible work style that enables systems for worker’s property accumulation, etc. account for effective use of time and place by utilizing ICT (information approximately 40% of and communication technologies). Database of companies promoting active roles of women all workers, and Telework can be a regular workers and mechanism for balancing Supporting work-life balance improve treatment of work and child/family care, non-regular workers. While approximately 50% of women leave their jobs contributing to the realization Through these before or after giving birth to their first child, the percentage of work-life balance, and efforts, the Bureau will enabling individuals of diverse “Platinum Kurumin” mark “Kurumin” mark of men who took child care leave remains quite low at ensure that workers around 5%. skills and backgrounds to can continue to work In order to develop an environment in which both men demonstrate their abilities. with consent to their and women can have a good balance between work and The Ministry of Health, treatment no matter child/family care and continue to work, the Bureau promotes Labour and Welfare provides what kind of work style the use of a child/family care leave system and systems for enterprises with support for they choose, thereby working reduced hours, etc., and provides support to, and introducing telework and allowing them to raises awareness of, enterprises. prepares a work environment for those working via telework “Platinum Eruboshi” mark “Eruboshi” mark choose diverse and In addition, in response to the declining birth rate, the Poster for the Part-Time/Fixed-Term on consignment in a self-employed manner. flexible work styles. Workers Act

15 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 16 Child and Family Policy Bureau

The progress in the declining birthrate is a significant issue that can shake the very foundation of Japanese society and economy. In order to Child and Supporting child-rearing overcome the declining birthrate, we must realize a society in which Our Mission everyone wishing to have children and raise them can do so without undue generations to protect worries. In addition, it must be ensured that all children can grow to be Family Policy healthy both physically and mentally, regardless of the environment in children's smiling faces which they are born and raised. For children who will lead and create the Bureau future of Japan, the Bureau supports people of child-rearing age and promotes policies to protect children's smiling faces.

Policy

Fields under its jurisdiction Working to eliminate wait-listed children to guidance centers, etc., and Hot Topics support balancing child care with work the “New Plan”, which Planning and designing of declining birthrate strengthens the organization Free early childhood education and day care services Measures to eliminate wait-listed children are one of the measures of child guidance centers and most important issues in Japan. While women are playing Early childhood education and day care services are Toward the realization of the “desired birthrate of 1.8”, municipalities by increasing more active roles in the workplace, the Bureau aims to important for developing the basis of lifetime characters of the Bureau is working to analyze the factors of declining the number of personnel by eliminate wait-listed children, under the “Plan for Raising children, thus all children must be provided with birthrate and plan/design new declining birthrate approximately 2,000 by Children in a Peaceful Environment”, by developing childcare opportunities to receive such important services. Early measures with an eye to the future. FY2020, etc., was decided. acceptance capacity for 320,000 children by the end of childhood education and day care services have been made The Bureau intends to FY2020 so that it will be sufficient even when the employment available free of charge since October 2019 by utilizing establish a system in which Enhancement of childcare support services rate of women reaches 80%, which is equivalent to that in financial resources from consumption tax. The Bureau aims all children are provided with The Bureau is working to develop day care centers, other developed countries. to make a major shift towards a society in which couples seamless support, from early after-school children’s clubs, and community childcare The Bureau also aims to eliminate the issue of wait-listed can have children and raise them without undue worries by response to prevent child support bases, etc., and secure/train nursery teachers, children for after-school having the society bear the financial burden. abuse, to immediate response when abuse occurs, and support etc. and improve their quality. children’s clubs known as for self-reliance of children when children suffer abuse by the “barriers to the first steadily promoting the efforts based on the “New Plan”. Promotion of child abuse prevention and social care grade of elementary school”, based on the “New The Bureau is making comprehensive efforts, including After-School Children Plan”, Assuring healthy growth, etc. of all children measures from preventing child abuse to early detection by working to secure service In Japan, there are approximately 45,000 children who and protection, etc., and when it is difficult to raise providers for a total of cannot live with their family for various reasons such as children at home, raising them by foster parents or 300,000 children by the end having no guardian or being abused, etc., and many of them foster homes, etc. of FY2023. are living in a group in foster homes, etc. Human resource In order to enable these children to attain self-esteem in Comprehensive support for single-parent families development is also relationships with adults and gain abilities to establish trusting “Sukorin”, a symbol mark of The Bureau is making comprehensive efforts in essential for achieving this relationships with others, it is necessary to provide them with “Healthy and Happy Family” Child-Rearing Generation Comprehensive Support Centers providing independence support for single parent goal. The Bureau is working to a warm and family-like environment to the extent possible. families, including financial support such as support for improve labor conditions of these workers at the same time. Therefore, the Bureau Child-Rearing Generation Comprehensive Support Centers the single parent to obtain qualifications needed for a The Bureau is working to realize a society in which anyone promotes the securing of and are available for people to consult and help them resolve their job and child rearing allowance, child education support, can raise his/her children without undue worries while working establishment of support worries and anxieties that they have during the period from and child and childcare support, etc. by implementing these measures in an integrated manner. systems for “foster parents” pregnancy, childbirth to child-rearing in one location. Public who accept and raise health nurses, etc. in these Centers will respond to various Drastically strengthening measures to children in their homes, and consultation requests on Promotion of health for mothers and children pregnancy, child birth, or strives to improve the quality The Bureau is working to promote maternal and child prevent child abuse child-rearing and will of relevant facilities by health, including prenatal checkups, health checkups for There should be no abuse of children who will lead the coordinate to provide making them smaller in size services in a broad range infants and pregnant women, and postnatal care, etc., future. However, the number of cases of consultations is and regionally distributed. of fields, including medical provide subsidies for fertility treatment, etc., and ensure increasing every year, and tragic cases in which children die For the best interests of care, health, and welfare, physical and mental health of parents and children from abuse are continuing to occur. all children, the Bureau is etc., in an integrated throughout the period of pregnancy/child In July 2019, “immediate comprehensive measures” were working to implement social manner. The Bureau is birth/child-rearing. formulated with the first priority given to protecting children’s care in which children are working to promote the lives. Decisions were made on the thorough implementation of Poster for raising public awareness establishment of these Maternity mark raised by the whole society. on the foster parent system the rules to protect children and drastic strengthening of child Centers throughout Japan by the end of FY2020.

17 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 18 Victims’ Relief Bureau Victims’ and War Social Welfare

The Bureau is working to promote broad social welfare efforts, including the development of a social welfare juridical person Social Welfare system and foundation of welfare by securing human resources to Realizing a regionally Our Mission be engaged in welfare, providing support to people having and War Victims’ cohesive society difficulties making a living and persons with disabilities, implementing measures against suicide, and establishing community welfare, etc., and as well as consolation of the war dead Relief Bureau and relief for bereaved families.

Fields under its jurisdiction Policy

Promotion of community welfare Support for efforts across different systems efforts for welfare services for persons with disabilities. Toward resolving various life issues, the Bureau promotes and fields Furthermore, the Bureau has promoted the establishment of Hot Topics the development of a comprehensive support system in a “comprehensive Due to the decreasing population and changes in family regions for realizing a “a regionally cohesive community-based Realization of social participation of persons with structures and local communities, various issues have been society” in which community members support care system that can occurring. While issues that individuals and households have, disabilities through agriculture-welfare collaboration each other to create individual lives, purposes also deal with mental including “long-term care and child care” and “social withdrawal of life, and a community. disabilities” to enable AThe agriculture-welfare collaboration is an effort in (“hikikomori”) and needy”, etc., original and inventive community persons with mental collaboration between agriculture and welfare to realize social efforts that cross the vertical segmentation among systems in Support for people having difficulties making a living disabilities to live in participation of persons with disabilities by developing different fields such as those for elderly people, persons with The public assistance system guarantees minimum standards ways they like in their agricultural management through their active roles in the field disabilities, and children, etc. and the relationship between of a healthy and cultural life. With the independence support hometown and of agriculture and building their confidence and purpose of life. “supporters” and “receivers”, including the establishment of Art exhibition at the 19th National Art and system for needy persons, comprehensive support that takes measures to against The plan for FY2020 not only in the field of agriculture, but consultation contact Culture Festival for Persons with Disabilities into consideration the entire life, including work, livelihood, and addiction to alcohol also in forestry and fishery include matching according to the points to broadly housing, etc., is provided to people having difficulties making a and drugs, etc. characteristics of individual disabilities, promotion of training, respond to the issues living at a stage before receiving public assistance. The and creation of model projects for employment of persons with and community Bureau will continue to provide various support through this Recovering the remains of the war dead disabilities in forestry and fishery, etc. development efforts multi-tiered Net so that all people can live independent lives. It is expected that persons with disabilities will continue to mainly by volunteer and holding memorial ceremonies be valuable workforce in agricultural sites where aging has organizations, etc., Developing social welfare foundations Approximately 3.1 million people died in the World Wars. progressed every year and their quality of life will also improve. are being expanded. Among them, approximately 2.4 million people died overseas The Bureau ensures systems for providing welfare services By supporting (including Okinawa and Iwo Jima), and approximately 1.1 million that will play important roles in an aging society in the future these efforts, the remains of them have not been returned to their hometown yet. through the strengthening of governance of management Bureau aims to realize It is the national responsibility to recover the remains of the organizations and promotion of mutual business cooperation Efforts in local communities a “regionally cohesive war dead, and the Bureau is working to recover as many of social welfare corporations that are responsible for remains as possible and return them to their families. providing welfare services and securing/developing welfare/ society” to enable people to live in ways they like in their In addition, the Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead is held long-term care human resources, including foreigners. hometown even with various life issues. annually on August 15 at the Nippon Budokan, which is attended Promotion of suicide countermeasures Supporting community life for persons with by the Emperor and Empress, to console the souls of the war dead and wish for peace. Approximately 20,000 people take their lives every year in disabilities We must not forget that the peace and prosperity we enjoy Japan. Based on the idea that suicide is a death to which today are founded on the ultimate sacrifices of the war dead. many have been driven and is a social issue that can be The Bureau provides systems and services to enable The pledge never to repeat the tragedy of war will remain prevented, the Bureau is working to prevent suicides. persons with disabilities to choose a life as they wish in their Marché selling local agricultural products created through communities. We continue to improve welfare services for unchanged in the eras of Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa as well. “agriculture” and “welfare” (meeting of Prime Minister Abe and persons with disabilities) Enhancement of measures for persons with disabilities persons with disabilities including in-home long-term care, employment support, and group home aid for those who wish to The Bureau aims to realize a society in which persons with Promoting the use of the adult guardianship system disabilities can live active lives in their communities, and is live in his/her working to enhance welfare services for persons with community, and While the number of elderly people with dementia is disabilities such as daily life long-term care, etc. and support for their expected to increase in the future, supporting them in making develop mental health and medical welfare systems, etc. arts and cultural their own decisions is becoming more and more important. activities. At present, the Bureau has worked to promote the Consolation of the war dead and relief for their bereaved families The Bureau is development of core institutions and formulation of the plan by also working to The Bureau is working to conduct the consolation project for municipalities for the use of the adult guardianship system improve labor the souls of the war dead including recovering the remains based on the “Basic Plan for Promoting the Use of the Adult conditions for of the war dead and pilgrimages, etc., provide relief pension Guardianship System” during the period up to FY2021. securing human benefits to the victims’ bereaved family and wounded/sick In FY2019, the mid-year of the Basic Plan, the Bureau resources who will retired soldiers, and provide support for the Japanese who assembled relevant ministries and agencies to verify the efforts support these Daily life training toward living in a local community were left behind in China, etc. made to date and compile measures to be taken in the future.

19Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 20 for the Elderly Bureau Health and Welfare

Toward a society in which While Japan is experiencing an unprecedented super aging society, Health and the Bureau promotes welfare and long-term care measures for people can live as they like Our Mission elderly people, including a long-term care insurance system, with the aim of creating a society in which elderly people can continue to Welfare Bureau in their hometown live as they like in their hometown through utilizing the latest technologies and integration with community development. for the Elderly regardless of age

Policy

Utilization of technologies in the field of Fields under its jurisdiction The MHLW is working to expand these mechanisms and long-term care create systems to Hot Topics promote community Operating long-term care insurance While ageing is expected to progress and the needs for Development of big data in the field of development by using the long-term care to increase in the future, the population of the systems long-term care insurance long-term care working generation is rapidly decreasing and securing long-term The Bureau operates public insurance systems to system as a tool in care human resources is expected to become difficult. In order to promote provision of long-term care provide various services according to the needs of each cooperation with the The Bureau therefore has promoted efforts to establish more services based on evidence, the Bureau promotes elderly people requiring long-term care, including respective local effective long-term care sites, that is to “improve productivity”, collection and analysis of long-term care data (content in-home services such as home helpers, etc. and facility governments. through utilizing technologies with ensuring service quality. of care and information on the status of service users, services such as Intensive Care Home for the Elderly, More concretely, development of products/technologies such as etc.) and conducts analysis linking with medical data. etc. Example of “exercise for active 100-year-old nursing care robots, etc. required at long-term care sites has been persons” of Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture Through these efforts, the effectiveness of long-term promoted in cooperation with relevant ministries and agencies, and care services is correctly understood, which is then All-Japan effort to take dementia measures Promotion of the Community-based efforts have been made for trial implementation of new used for the revision of the system to improve the Integrated Care System technologies that contribute to work process reform, establishment With the progress in the aging of society, people with quality of long-term care services. The Bureau promotes the establishment of a system to of effective care models, their demonstration at long-term care dementia are expected to further increase. The number of ensure medical care, long-term care, preventive care, sites, and their nationwide expansion and promotion. people with dementia will reach about 7 million in 2025. This Measures for the aging society housing, and livelihood support in a comprehensive means approximately one in five people over the age of 65 will manner to enable elderly people to continue to live in develop dementia. Since anyone can develop dementia as just Aging of society has progressed at an ways they like in their hometown until the end of their described, the National Framework for Promotion of Dementia unprecedented speed in Japan. While this is a difficult lives even if they need medical/long-term care (The Policies has been compiled with the aim of building a society in challenge for Japan, other countries in the world are Community-based Integrated Care System). which people can live daily life with hope, even if they develop paying attention to the efforts of Japan, as the front dementia. runner. Dementia measures require broad efforts, including Determination of long-term care fees The MHLW has been promoting international promotion of barrier-free community building and development The Bureau determines the “prices” of long-term care exchange by providing information on Japanese of financial products, etc., and therefore the Bureau promotes fees to be received as remuneration for providing Robot supporting Example of devices that can be used to measures at various opportunities for bilateral exchange transfer from bed to centrally manage the status of users the efforts by including the measures to be taken in cooperation long-term care services to promote stable service and multilateral exchange such as G20, etc. wheelchair using smartphones via IoT with relevant ministries and agencies in the Dementia Policies. provision and the establishment of high quality service Furthermore, in order to promote “dementia barrier-free” provision systems. Community development in an aging society by society to reduce the barriers to enable people to continue to taking advantage of preventive long-term care live their ordinary life in their hometown to the extent possible Promotion of preventive long-term care even with dementia, the Bureau promotes cooperative efforts Even under the circumstances where the aging of society In order to prevent elderly people from requiring between the public and private sectors by launching the “Japan is progressing and there are shortages in long-term care long-term care or their condition from becoming severe, Public-Private Council on Dementia” in cooperation not only human resources, elderly people can continue to live as they the Bureau promotes long-term care prevention efforts among administrative agencies but also with private economic like while maintaining ties with people in communities and in each municipality, and visualizes/shares the organizations, local governments, related academic societies, promoting preventive long-term care efforts by utilizing their know-how in advanced cases to promote efforts for and organizations of concerned parties, etc. own power and the power of the communities. long-term care prevention/independence support. For instance, various mechanisms that allow ties between elderly people and other people in communities may be considered, including preventive long-term care classes using Discussion with Asian countries at the forum for the Asia Health and public bathhouses, salons and on-site health consultations Human Wellbeing Initiative (photo: Japan Center for International Exchange) utilizing supermarkets, and health promotion exercises utilizing playground equipment in parks, etc., and many efforts are actually taken by the respective local governments. Japan Public-Private Council on Dementia

21Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 22 Health Insurance Bureau

In Japan, a universal health insurance system, initiated approximately 60 years ago, is Passing the shared by all citizens who may face medical risks. With this system everyone can receive necessary medical care anytime and anywhere using an insurance certificate. Health Insurance world-acclaimed health Our Mission The health insurance system that is familiar and commonplace to the people today now faces various issues in anticipation of a 100-year life society, including the balance insurance system to between the needs for medical care, the financial burden, etc. The mission of the Health Bureau Insurance Bureau is to consistently consider every possible measure to firmly maintain the world-acclaimed universal health insurance system and ensure that it remains future generations sustainable going forward.

Fields under its jurisdiction Policy

Operating health insurance systems Establishing sustainable health insurance systems medical insurers, etc., local governments, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, was established to promote The Bureau is responsible for planning and designing health Japan has achieved the world’s highest level of average life Hot Topics “visualization” of original and inventive efforts of insurers, insurance systems that contribute to people’s stable life, etc. expectancy and health and medical standards through public including specified by providing necessary compensation for sickness and health insurance systems. These systems enable all citizens to Health insurance system reform health checks focused injuries, etc. of workers of private companies and their receive necessary medical care equally in case of sickness or on visceral fat To steadily hand down the world-acclaimed Japanese families. injury, regardless of their income level. accumulation health insurance system to future generations, it is an In recent years, however, medical expenditure has been (metabolic syndrome), urgent issue to put the break on the increasing financial Operating the national health insurance system increasing due to the progress of aging and advances in medical and prevention of burden on the working generation when the baby boomers The Bureau is responsible for planning and designing a services, etc. Approximately 40 percent of medical fees for progression of turn 75 or older in 2025. national health insurance that contributes to the people aged 75 and older, which account for a majority of the diabetic nephropathy For this reason, under the perspectives of promoting a improvement of people’s health by providing necessary medical expenditure, is borne by the actively working generation, that is the primary revised system where the financial burden should be compensation for sickness and injuries, etc. of people not which is increasingly becoming a financial burden to them. disease for dialysis, shared, not by age, but by those who are capable of subscribing to health insurance such as self-employed The systems need to be revised to adapt to the times for f etc. It is also promoting “horizontal expansion” of advanced covering the amount and to suppress the increasing persons and those engaged in agriculture. people of all generations to feel satisfied while, at the same time, cases, and strengthening incentives for insurers. payment by the working generation, concrete discussions firmly maintaining a future universal health insurance system that based on the interim report of the Council on Social Security protect people’s life. Operating the medical care system for the elderly System for All Generations compiled in December 2019 are In order to achieve a more focused and efficient medical Medical fee revision The Bureau is responsible for planning and designing a to promote (1) raising the co-payment rate for those aged 75 care, sharing the financial burden between and within medical care system for people aged 75 and over that is Medical fees are the remunerations that health or older with a certain income level or above to 20 percent generations, and for a more stable system, the Health Insurance designed to promote welfare for the elderly by providing insurance-covered medical institutions and pharmacies receive and (2) expanding a system to require fixed-sum payments Bureau is working to promote reforms, including strengthening of appropriate medical benefits to people aged 75 and older. for providing health and medical services and are applied for receiving medical care at large hospitals to strengthen the financial basis of National Health Insurance and mutual throughout Japan utilizing a point system in which one point is functions of family doctors, and other medical practitioners. support of Employees’ Health Insurance, efforts to promote a calculated as 10 yen. Setting of medical fees and prices of drugs, etc. A draft will be compiled by the summer of 2020. balanced in people’s payments, and efforts to create a system to Medical fees are determined once every two years by the The Bureau operates the Central Social Insurance Medical promote prevention and health promotion efforts of individuals Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare taking into consideration Council to revise medical fees, which are the remunerations and insurers to facilitate people’s voluntary health promotion the discussions at the Central Social Insurance Medical Council. Introduction of verifying online certifications for health and medical services provided by medical programs. The number of medical fee points supports the currently required There is a demand in society to promote and provide institutions and pharmacies, and the official prices of drugs, quality and quantitative improvement of medical services, and the efficient high quality medical care with informatization in the etc. once every two years. Disease prevention and health promotion for discussion on the revision for each service actually determines field of medical care. In order to do so, a system to verify the direction of medical care services. extending a healthy life certificates online at the reception desks of medical Disease prevention and health promotion The FY2020 revision aims to establish a “social security institutions using IC chips on My Number cards, etc. will be In anticipation of the coming of a “100-year life society”, it is system for all generations” in anticipation of an era of a 100-year The Bureau is responsible for the planning and designing of gradually introduced from March 2021. necessary to extend a healthy life expectancy. In order to do so, life span by taking into consideration the realization of a safe, preventive and health promotion efforts to prevent the onset This enables the use of My Number cards as health the “mission for the new era” of the Health Insurance Bureau is to reliable, and high quality medical care that is familiar to patients and progression of lifestyle diseases in the insured by insurance certificates and an immediate verification of make a shift from a “treatment-oriented” to a and people. It also must consider the sustainability of the systems utilizing medical big data, including the implementation of whether the patient is eligible to receive insured medical “prevention-oriented” medical care. by making them more efficient and appropriate. Furthermore, health checkups by the respective medical insurers, etc. treatments, thereby reducing The Bureau is working to implement a “data health reform” in reducing the burden of medical professionals and work-style the time and effort of returning which data on health insurance and long-term care insurance reform for doctors, etc. Statistical survey and analysis of health receipts and entering data at receipts, etc. are collected and analyzed, and the results are are also included in insurance systems the reception desks. used to provide high quality health and medical services, and a the content, making This system can also be In order to contribute to the discussions on ideal health “health service reform” in which medical care, long-term care, this an important utilized to enable patients to insurance systems that take into consideration the progress and health checkup data of individuals is analyzed in regions to revision from the point check their medication of the aging of society and changes in disease structure, provide health services (exercise, oral, and nutrition programs) of view of work-style information and specified etc., the Bureau makes financial estimation and prepares according to the individual’s conditions, etc. reform for doctors, etc. health checks information documents for understanding and analyzing the trends of In addition, in order to carry out nationwide disease toward April 2024 anytime at My Portal to help and reforming medical fees by utilizing a national database prevention and health promotion campaign activities, the “Nippon when the application (NDB) in which receipt (medical fees bill) data is stored. Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Labour observe their health care and Kenko Kaigi (Japan Health Conference)”, which is responsible for of the regulation on the and Welfare Kojima receiving a report from the disease prevention efforts. promoting efforts in cooperation between private organizations, upper limit of overtime Central Social Insurance Medical Council (February 2020) such as economic organizations, medical organizations, and work will start.

23Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 24 Pension Bureau

Realizing Pensions support people in their post-retirement life. With the diversifying work styles and extended life expectancy, the Bureau is “intergenerational support” Our Mission working to review systems to establish a pension system that is in Pension Bureau line with social and economic changes and situations so that people that will continue for the can have a sense of security. We hope to ensure an appropriate operation of the pension system in cooperation with the Japan next 100 years Pension Service.

Policy

Balancing “sustainability” and “sufficiency Supporting individual life plans Fields under its jurisdiction of benefits” Private pensions (corporate pensions/personal pensions), which are provided in Public pension Public pension is a system to support the basis of addition to public pension, are available as systems to support life in old age. For Public pension is a system for “intergenerational people’s post-retirement life. The Pension Bureau has been example, iDeCo (individual-type defined contribution pension plan) is one of those support” to appropriate insurance premiums paid by addressing the difficult issue of securing the “sufficiency of which individuals can subscribe to on a voluntary basis and select the amount of working generations to the payment of pension benefits benefits” and at the same time improving the sustainability premiums and investment method. Preferential tax treatment is available for the to the elderly at the time. In addition, pension benefits of the system while declining birthrate and aging are rapidly premiums and investment profits of iDeCo, and therefore not only those in old age are also provided when a person is disabled by a traffic progressing. In 2004, as the insurance premium burden of but also those of the active generation can enjoy the benefits. It was revised in accident, etc., or the main breadwinner of the family the working generation was expected to be excessive in the January 2017 to allow basically anyone to subscribe to the plan, and the number of dies, pension benefits are paid to the person concerned future, a drastic reform was carried out to introduce a new subscribers exceeded 1.46 million at the end of December 2019. In addition, support or the bereaved family. framework in which the upper limit for increasing insurance measures for small and medium-sized enterprises are taken to enable them to utilize private pensions regardless of their size. The Bureau will continue to support efforts “IDeCo-chan”, premiums is fixed and the benefit level is automatically an iDeCo promotion character Private pension adjusted within the limit of financial resources. The Bureau for individual life plans in old age. Private pension is a system to meet the needs of will now address the issue of how to secure the benefit level people’s post-retirement lives and support income in within the limit of financial resources. their senior years in combination with the public Ensuring a good balance between income and pension. Typical private pension includes expenditure for 100 years Hot Topics defined-benefit pension plan and defined contribution pension plan. Pension public relations efforts

Operation of pension reserves With the diversifying work styles and extended life expectancy, the Bureau is The pension reserve of approximately 167 trillion yen working to enhance and strengthen public exchange to gain understanding of (as of the end of FY2018) is an important financial various generations. With the arrival of the Reiwa Era, the Bureau has conducted resource for future pension benefits. The operation of a “Reiwa Pension Public Relations Contest” to call for posters and videos, etc. the pension reserve is safely and efficiently carried out with the aim of considering pension and asset formation for the younger by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF). generations, who will lead the future, when they age. In addition, November 30 is designated as the “Pension Day” where a number of events are held in Mechanism of the pension finance Social security agreements cooperation with private sectors. On-site consultations/pension seminars, etc. Minister of Health Labour and are held by the Japan Pension Service. Welfare Award at the Reiwa With the progress of globalization, the number of Operation of the public pension system Pension Public Relations Contest (poster section) Japanese working overseas, and foreign nationals that is trusted by the people visiting Japan from overseas to work, is increasing. In In order to ensure stable operation of pension systems order to prevent them from paying pension contributions and fairness in burdens, the Bureau is working in cooperation Pension system reform in both Japan and their respective foreign countries, the with the Japan Pension Service to promote measure to Bureau is promoting the conclusion of social security promote application of Employees' Pension Insurance and In recent years, it has become necessary to enhance the economic basis for agreements. measures to collect National Pension premium payments the extending life expectancy as our society is changing with more people and accurately, reliably, and promptly carry out each work, engaged in working in more diverse styles for longer periods. In order to respond Operation of public pension including pension record management, application, to such social demand, the Draft Act on the Revision of the Pension System was In order to operate the public pension system that is collection, payment, and consultation, etc. In addition, the presented to be enacted at a regular Diet session in 2020. trusted by the people, the Bureau carries out the actual Bureau is working to operate the public pension system that The main pillars of this Draft Act include expansion to include part-time management work such as providing pensions, is trusted by people through dissemination and promotion of workers in Employees’ Health Insurance, a review of appropriate provisions of maintaining records, and collecting premiums, etc. in pension benefits to the employed, expanding options for the benefit start date, “Nenkin Net” services that enable people to check their Poster for raising public cooperation with the Japan Pension Service. pension records, etc. anytime via PCs and smartphones, etc. and a review of eligibility requirements for private pensions, etc. awareness on “Pension Day”

25Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 26 Resources Development Director-General for Human

Supporting human resource The mission for the Director-General is to realize a stable job placement and employment security by providing various support to Director-General acquire and improve know-how and work skills to workers that development to realize a Our Mission for Human support economic activities in Japan and the young who intend to society in which everyone start working. With this human resource development support, the Resources Director-General aims to realize a society in which all people can can play active role fully utilize their abilities through work and to be able to play more Development active roles.

Fields under its jurisdiction Policy

Implementation of public vocational training Supporting re-employment and skills program which grants awards to workers who are regarded as The Director-General implements vocational training development through public vocational training the leading experts in their fields. Hot Topics sessions throughout Japan for people seeking The Director-General implements various vocational training re-employment or a career change. We also offer know-how Support for the employment “ice age” generation (in the manufacturing field such as manufacture and and work skills to the young and persons with disabilities, construction, etc. and services in fields such as IT and long-term who intend to work. Between 1993 to 2004 is the so-called ‘employment care, among others) through nationwide vocational training ice age generation’, when jobs were scarce for the institutions for those seeking re-employment or a career change Career development support young seeking employment. Even today, there are and for the young and persons with disabilities, who are The Director-General supports voluntary career people, who are still facing many issues such as being interested in acquiring know-how and work skills to fulfill their development by promoting career consultations and aspirations. In recent years, the Director-General is promoting unwillingly in an unstable employment and not in provides grants for training and education that subsidizes improvement training courses to support non-regular workers employment, etc. The MHLW promotes, in cooperation part of their course tuitions, etc. looking for regular with local governments, the development of a social employment and support sentiment and an advanced cooperation and Support for human resource development by companies re-employment of collaboration with support institutions. We are working to The Director-General supports human resource Gold medalists of World Skills are congratulated by Prime Minister Abe women raising provide seamless support according to individual issues development in companies by subsidizing training costs children. and situations, from consultations to vocational training, provided by the company for their employees. We also We also offer Supporting stable employment and independence employment, and workplace adaptation, through Hello subsidize company training costs certified by prefectural training sessions for of young people who will lead the next generation Work offices and Regional Youth Support Station. governors. workers to improve The Director-General provides detailed employment support their specialized through “Hello Work for New Graduates and Hello Work for Evaluation and promotion of vocational skills knowledge and work Young People”, etc. to enable the young to gain stable The Director-General implements National Trade Skills skills, to support skill employment and utilize their abilities. In particular, the Tests that measures the know-how and work skills in improvement and Training for workers to acquire more advanced Director-General initiated a system to provide workplace approximately 130 job categories. We also hold skills performance. circuit measurement/evaluation skills information, based on the Youth Employment Promotion Act, to competitions for skilled workers across Japan. enable the young to make appropriate job choices when their Promoting “visualization” of vocational career development begins after graduating from school or Joint job interview session by Hello Work office Human resource development in developing countries abilities and skills promotion university and to certify small and medium-sized companies that The Director-General cooperates in the Technical Intern are actively employing and training the young. The National Trade Skills Test is an important evaluation Creation of a society in which people can Training Program, which provides on-the-job-training to In addition, the Director-General provides specialized system to measure the abilities of workers, who have acquired transfer knowledge and skills to men and women from consultation support through “Regional Youth Support Stations” be re-educated and improved their knowledge and working skills. Tests are developing countries, who will be supporting their country’s for vocational independence of the unemployed youth, who are conducted for approximately 130 job categories that support economic activities. not in education, employment, or training (the so-called NEETs), In anticipation of a 100-year life society, creating a economic activities in Japan in the hope to motivate students and enhances support for the young society in which everyone has opportunities to be and workers to endeavor to improve their abilities with a goal. belonging to the “employment ‘ice age’ re-educated (recurrent education) regardless of their Companies also use this test for human resource development. generation”. age has been an important issue for the government. In addition, efforts are being made to improve skill levels and The MHLW is working to create a society in which promoting skills Government certification mark endorsing small and through the National medium-sized companies that are actively employing people can re-learn knowledge and working skills and training young people Skills Competition in according to their individual life stage by combining which young people various human resource development policies, including compete their skills to promotion of career consultation, development of become the national education and training programs in collaboration with champion and the universities, review of courses subject to training and “Outstandingly Skilled education benefits, and subsidies to companies Workers (Great introducing a long-term education and training leave Craftsmen in the Technical intern trainee learning furniture manufacturing techniques Skilled worker representing Japan competing system, etc. present world)”, a his skills in industrial machine assembly work Government portal website introducing employment support in the 2019 WorldSkills Competition measures for the young in an integrated manner

27Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 28 Policy and Evaluation Director-General for General

The Director-General plays the role of a control center of social Director-General security policies within the Ministry of Health, Labour and Creating a grand design Our Mission for General Policy Welfare and creates the grand design and future image of in social security and policies, taking into consideration changes in social and and Evaluation economic situations, including declining birthrate, aging labor policies population, and technological innovations, etc.

Policy

Establishment of a social security system Responses to cross-sectional political “Shokuba-Labo” where workplace information such as work style and recruitment status of companies can be retrieved for all generations issues of the government Hot Topics and compared. As a 100-year life society is closing in on us, the Since social security/labor policies relate to policies in the Director-General is working to establish a “social security system areas outside of health, labor, and welfare administration Efforts toward the holding of Olympic/ ● Analysis of the Labor Economy for all generations” in which all citizens can play active roles longer such as local administration and economic/industrial Paralympic Games and more healthily, and all generations can have a sense of policies, etc., the Director-General discusses policies from “White Paper on the Labor Economy” has been published security. As a control center for promoting reforms, the Director- various viewpoints on the issue of a society with further every year with the aim of deepening labor-management Regarding Tokyo 2020 Olympic/Paralympic Games, General plays the role of creating the grand design of policies. progress in a declining birthrate and aging population in deliberations, etc. by presenting the current status and the MHLW is working, in cooperation with the Tokyo issues surrounding the Japanese labor economy using Toward the year 2025 in which the so-called baby boomer cooperation with other ministries and agencies working on government, relevant ministries and agencies, on statistics and case studies of company efforts. The 2019 generation turns 75 or older, the Director-General has been relevant efforts. In addition, the Director-General plays the heatstroke measures for athletes and audiences, edition of the White Paper contains the analysis conducted working on a “comprehensive reform of social security and tax” to role of contacting and coordinating with entities outside of preventive measures against infectious diseases in under the theme of “Issues Concerning ‘Work Styles’ in the promote both an enhancement/stabilization and prioritization/ the Ministry and supervising within the Ministry to design response to the increasing number of visitors to Japan, optimization in the respective areas of measures for declining policies from a broad perspective not limited within the Labor Shortage Situations”, and the video version is also and development of birthrate, medical/long-term care, and pension while securing boundary of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, released for the first time for the MHLW White Paper. environments for revenue from the increased consumption tax rate. including promoting the provision of information in the areas accepting foreign Looking even further into the future, in order to carry out further of health, labor, and welfare and review of administrative patients in medical reform toward the year 2040 in which children of the baby-boom procedures from the viewpoint of the people while institutions, etc. generation will become elderly, causing a decrease in the proceeding with discussions with members of the Diet and population of the working generations to further progress, the private sector experts. Director-General is working on three agendas, namely “development of an environment for diverse employment/social Responses to new issues participation of elderly people, etc.”, “extension of healthy life ● Impact of technological innovations such as AI, etc. expectancy that is the prerequisite for employment and social Labor law education and social security education While technological innovations such as Artificial Intelligence participation”, and “productivity improvement by medical/welfare (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT), etc. are advancing, attention is service reforms under stricter labor force requirements”. In With the aim of preventing work-related issues due to also being drawn on the impact on employment, work styles, and addition, the Director-General will continue to promote discussions the lack of expertise in labor-related laws and career development. The on “review of benefits and burdens” to ensure the sustainability of regulations, and making individuals understand the Director-General promotes social security systems toward the achievement of an ideal social discussions on how these significance of social security system appropriate for a 100-year life society, taking into innovations should be introduced in Video version of “White Paper on the Labor Economy 2019” security and consideration discussions of the whole government. workplaces while understanding the considering it with a actual circumstances. ● Consideration on the new method for the utilization sense of ownership, of the vitality of the private sector the Director-General ● Visualization of workplace In the field of social security, “Pay For Success (PFS)” is working to promote information contract method is drawing attention as a method for solving the creation of The Director-General promotes complex and diverse social issues such as lifestyle-related educational materials work-style reform not only through diseases and support for people live in social isolation by used in schools and regulations but utilizing the vitality of the private sector. In PFS, business labor law and social also utilizing firms will be paid by the administration in an amount security education for “visualization” according to the achievements of the project entrusted to children and the methods by them, and thus further efforts are expected to be made to young by dispatching operating a achieve business goals. The MHLW is also considering instructors to ways to promote the utilization of PFS in the field of health comprehensive lectures, etc. and welfare.I workplace information site Cartoon labor laws At the Council on Social Security System for All Generations

29 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 30 Information Policy and Evaluation Director-General for Statistics, Steering promotion of Director-General for Supporting people, life, and science and technology Statistics, Information the future based on data and Minister’s Secretariat and risk management digital technologies Health Science Division Policy and Policy Our Mission Our Mission At present, innovations exceeding the conventional level are occurring, Evaluation including advancement of Genomic medicine and development of AI With the rapid advancement of informatization in recent years, it is technologies. In order to establish science and technologies in the areas becoming more important to operate government administration by utilizing of health and medical care ahead of any other country, the Division data and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The supervises the promotion of research and formulation of strategies. In Director-General therefore conducts statistical surveys on vital events, addition, natural disasters have been occurring one after another in employment, and medical care, etc. and promotes information policies such recent years. In order to protect people’s lives and health, the Division coordinates initial responses after the occurrence of natural disasters and as promotion of digital transformation (DX) in the overall health, labor, and Health Science Division Minister’s Secretariat implements risk management when infectious diseases or food poisoning welfare administration, etc. and implementation of policy evaluations. Fields under its jurisdiction Fields under its jurisdiction occur.

Statistical survey Promotion of scientific research Policy Policy The Director-General is working on developing In order to make policies based on scientific statistics that are closely related to our lives such Improvement of statistics to support the evidence, the Division promotes research in a Promotion of genomic medicine as vital events, employment, and medical care, etc. administration of health, labor and welfare number of areas under the jurisdiction of the that are required for policy planning in the fields of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which In recent years, therapeutic drugs that match (more effectively and health, labor, and welfare, GDP estimates, and In order to promote evidence-based policy making (EBPM), it is include health and medical care, welfare, with fewer adverse effects) one's individual physical constitutions and economic assessment. essential to understand actual conditions and active utilization of pharmaceutical affairs/food sanitation, and disease conditions can be chosen by identifying gene mutations that can statistical data, etc. The MHLW conducts large-scale national surveys on industrial safety and health. cause certain diseases. For instance, for “lung cancer”, various types of Information policies vital events, households, medical care, social welfare, employment of gene mutations can cause the same disease, and personalized medicine The Director-General designs, plans, and workers, wages, and working hours. It is comparing international Control center for innovation strategies is being promoted. promotes comprehensive information policies, statistical data and is managing international statistical classifications in in the areas of health and medical care In December 2019, for cancer or intractable diseases, etc., the “Action including promotion of informatization in health, cooperation with international organizations such as the World Health With the aim of creating innovative drugs and Plan on Whole-Genome Analysis (1st edition)” was formulated to improve labor, and welfare administration, data health Organization (WHO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and medical devices that have originated in Japan and the accuracy of individual treatment, provide new treatment to patients for reform, ensuring of information security, and Development (OECD), etc. realizing global leading medical care, including whom effective treatments have yet to have been established, and further development of information systems, etc. In addition, based on the reflections of a series of statics-related regenerative medicine and genomic medicine, the promote personalized medicine. In accordance with this Action Plan, the problems, the Director-General is working on reforming of statistics with characteristics of genomic variation of Japanese are to be clarified in an Policy evaluation and analysis Division plays the role of a control center within the the aim of becoming the “front runner of the statistical administration”, Ministry. advance analysis to determine the policy for full analysis and work on the The Director-General conducts policy evaluation including the development of highly reliable statistics and effective development of systems and human resources, etc. within the MHLW, promotes evidence-based policy utilization of statistical data, etc. Health risk management, and The Division therefore aims to realize and disseminate “genomic making (EBPM), and prepares and publishes the measures against disasters medicine”. “Annual Health, Labor and Welfare Report”. Promoting digitization in the fields of health, labor In order to respond to the occurrence of natural Responses to 2019 Typhoons No. 15 and 19, etc. and welfare disasters such as earthquakes/heavy rains, etc. and serious infectious diseases, the Division In FY2019, large-scale storms and floods, including heavy rainfall We are about to face the era of “Society 5.0” where services closely regularly promotes disaster prevention/mitigation disasters, etc., in various regions. Typhoon No.15, also known as Typhoon Hot Topics meeting the diverse needs are provided by utilizing advanced technologies measures and coordinates initial responses within Faxai, in particular, caused a long-term, large-scale power failure due to such as IoT, robots, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), etc. In order to promote the Ministry when disasters occur. collapse of transmission towers and electric poles by strong winds and Full-scale introduction of RPA! the utilization of big data and to introduce advanced technologies that benefit damage to electric wires, etc. In addition, Typhoon No. 19, also known as people in the fields of health, medical care, and long-term care, the MHLW Typhoon Hagibis, etc. caused significant damage mainly in eastern Japan. As the MHLW is closely related to people’s promotes a data health reform across different bureaus and departments. Upon the occurrence of the disaster, in addition to dispatching disaster lives, our administrative work is increasing with the The Director-General also promotes the digitization of procedures in the Hot Topics medical assistance teams (DMAT) to the disaster sites, the MHLW also declining birthrate, the aging population, and fields of health, labor and welfare that many people are involved. AI utilization in the field of health dispatched officials to the disaster sites to understand the scope of damages complex social issues. Under such circumstances, Furthermore, as improved productivity of officials leads to the provision of to medical institutions and social welfare institutions, etc. and requested in 2019 Robotics Process Automation (RPA), improved services to people, the Director-General is working to develop a and medical care relevant institutions to provide emergency water supplies and dispatching which enables officials to focus on human work by system environment in which officials can work comfortably by utilizing ICT At present, AI is being utilized extensively in power-supply cars. In addition, the MHLW coordinated dispatching of handing over routine work to robots, etc. by and promote drastic Business Process Re-engineering (BPR). various fields. In the fields of health and medical professionals such as public health nurses, etc. from local governments, etc. utilizing advanced technologies while ensuring The Director-General is care, utilization of AI is expected to reduce the in Japan to enable them to cover every evacuation shelter. safety, was introduced and will expand significantly also working to enhance burden of medical professionals and create new In the current recovery and in 2020. information security diagnostic and treatment methods, etc. restoration period, the MHLW is Within the MHLW, robots check the progress measures to allow people For instance, AI is good at image recognition, working to repair medical care and file collection work, etc. New challenges are to receive services of the and its research and development is rapidly facilities, social welfare facilities, being promoted to realize better policies. health, labor, and welfare progressing. Medical devices and systems to and water supply facilities, and administration without support doctors in “image diagnostics” such as implement programs to watch over undue worries. diagnostic endoscopy, etc. have already been disaster victims and provide them Explaining to the Minister in a paper-less manner approved or certified, and the social with mental health care and implementation is underway. consultation support.

31Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 32 Minister’s Secretariat Contributing to international society by utilizing the strength General Minister’s Secretariat Coordination of Japan Division International Affairs Our Mission As a control center for the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the General Coordination Division overlooks the Division While interdependence with international society is increasing, as a Hot Topics overall affairs of the Ministry and is responsible for member of this society, Japan is expected to contribute to its peace appropriately reviewing the situations of the departments and and prosperity. In particular, as the aged society is progressing in bureaus and carrying out general coordination of all cases. G20 Ministers' Conference held in Japan Moreover, the Division is responsible for contact and Japan faster than any other country, the world is drawing attention to for the first time in 2019 coordination with the Diet and respective ministries and the experiences in Japan as the front runner of the aged society. The agencies in Kasumigaseki, and examines whether laws and International Affairs Division is contributing to the resolution of In 2019, the G20 Summit was held in Japan for the first regulations on which administrative activities are based are international issues in cooperation with international organizations time, and Japan led the discussion as the chair for promoting consistent with measures taken by the Ministry of Health, global economic growth and resolving issues at a global level. Labour and Welfare and whether the rules for creating laws and foreign countries through utilizing the strength of Japan. The MHLW held the G20 Labour and Employment and regulations are followed, etc. Fields under its jurisdiction Ministers' Conference in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture in September and the Health Ministers’ Conference in The Personnel Division Participation in international organizations Policy Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture in October, and, at the Personnel appropriately conducts personnel management, The Division is contributing to the discussions Promotion of international health same time as the G20 Summit in June, held the G20 Finance on international issues and ideal policies by Ministers and Health Ministers Joint Session in Osaka City, Division taking requests for future career and family participating in WHO (World Health Japan plays a leading role in international society through the sharing of Osaka Prefecture to have in-depth discussions on issues environments of individual common to the G20 countries such as responses to the aging Organization), ILO (International Labour Japanese knowledge and provision of financial and human resource officials into consideration, and develops an environment in Organization), and OECD (Organisation for support to address global health issues such as (1) establishment of a society, etc. which officials can work comfortably, including improved Economic Co-operation and Development), etc. system by which all countries in the world collectively respond to public work-life balance, by promoting efforts to make work more health risks such as Ebola virus disease and COVID-19; (2) achievement of efficient within the MHLW. In addition, the Division also places emphasis on the improvement of officials’ abilities by universal health coverage (UHC) to ensure access to basic health services Promotion of coordination conducting training at the sites of health centers, welfare The Division promotes policy coordination with by all people; and (3) measures for AMR (antimicrobial resistance) for offices, and Labor Bureaus, etc. for those at a younger age. foreign countries through frameworks such as which antibiotics are not G7, G20, ASEAN+3 (the ASEAN with Japan, effective, among others. China, and the Republic of Korea), etc. and In addition, Japan is also working to promote the provides information on knowledge and policies Accounts of Japan globally. development of drugs for internationally threatening Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kato (middle of the front row) Division Promotion of economic partnership infectious diseases and tropical shaking hands with representatives of the respective countries The Division promotes economic partnership/ diseases that still remain bilateral cooperation in the fields of drugs/ problems in developing , Promotion of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) MHLW 5 go-kan nursery room countries through participation Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Kato medical devices, food sanitation, and labor, etc. The Accounts Division is responsible for the coordination (right) shaking hands with Chinese and Korean UHC refers to a system in which all people can receive in international partnership health ministers at the 12th Health Ministers of budgets for the entire MHLW exceeding 30 trillion yen in through frameworks of EPAs (Economic appropriate health and medical services at an affordable Meeting between China, Japan and Korea budget requests made during the summer and budget Partnership Agreements) and bilateral activities. cost. Japan has achieved UHC by introducing a universal compilations at the end of the year. In addition, the Division is consultations. health insurance system as early as in 1961 and is also responsible for settlement of accounts, audits, public Improvement of Labor environment in the Asian region experienced in supporting the social and economic growth procurements, management of administrative properties and Support for developing countries Improvement of labor environment in developing countries not only and achievement of a healthy long life. Japan is therefore government buildings, and welfare benefits of government employees, etc. In order to support human resource leads to the achievement of social justice, but also contributes to the expected to be a leader in this field. The goals for 2030 in the Sustainable Development development and system establishment, etc. in development of Japanese economy through integration of high quality Goals (SDGs) announced at the General Assembly of the developing countries as part of international development of these countries. United Nations in 2015 also include the achievement of cooperation, the Division dispatches officials, The MHLW supports the establishment of worker protection systems in UHC, making it a major agenda in the international health Regional Bureau conducts training, and contributes funds to the Asian region through the ILO. More concretely, support programs field in recent years. Administration support programs implemented by international have been implemented, including improvement of occupational safety Division organizations, etc. and health levels, promotion of human resource development, and eradication of child labor, etc. International public relations and These efforts are expected to collection of overseas information contribute to sustainable As the front-line organizations for the health, labor, and welfare administration development of the Asian The Division provides Japanese information in regions, the Regional Bureau overseas through holding briefing sessions for region and expand Administration Division provides foreign embassies in Tokyo and operating a opportunities for Japanese comprehensive supervision and website in English, and collects information on companies to enter overseas personnel and budgetary support to enable Regional Offices of Health and markets through improved Senior Vice Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Hashimoto overseas health policies and systems. Welfare and Prefectural Labor Bureaus bilateral relationships. participating in the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2020 Social insurance workshop through Japanese support and UHC Forum 2020 (3rd from the right) to fully display their abilities.

33Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 34 Organization Chart Organization

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Health Pharmaceutical Labor Employment Employment Child and Social Welfare Health and Health Director-General Director-General Director-General for Minister’s Health Policy Pension Safety and Environment and and War Victims’ Welfare Bureau for Human for General Statistics, Information Service Environmental Standards Security Family Policy Insurance Resources Policy and Policy and Policy Secretariat Bureau Equal Employment for the Elderly Bureau Bureau Health Bureau Bureau Bureau Bureau Bureau Relief Bureau Bureau Development Evaluation Evaluation

General General General General General General General General General General General General Human Policy Planning Personnel General Policy Coordination Coordination Coordination Coordination Coordination Coordination Coordination Coordination Coordination Coordination Coordination Resource and Division and Evaluation Division Division Division Division Division Division Division Division Division Division Division Development Affairs Coordination

General Regional Medical Pharmaceutical Working Equal Employment Public Long-term Care Employees’ Human Resource Health Service Employment Day Care Pension Labor Policy Coordination Care Planning Evaluation Conditions Opportunity Assistance Insurance Health Insurance Development Division Policy Division Division Division Relations Evaluation Division Division Division Policy Division Division Division Planning Division Division Policies

Medical Institution Cancer and Medical Device Employment Fixed-term and Community Division of the National Health International Youth Support Information Accounts Supervision Family Welfare Management Disease Control Evaluation Insurance Part-time Work Welfare and Support for the Insurance Pension and Career Technology Division Division Division Support Division Division Division Division Division Services Division Elderly Division Division Development Management

Tuberculosis and Labor Relations Demand and Work and Life Childcare Welfare Division of the Health Asset Management Vocational Cyber Security and Regional Bureau Medical Pharmaceutical Promotion Infectious Diseases Law Division Supply Adjustment Harmonization Support Promotion Services System for Supervision Ability Information System Administration Professions Safety Division Division Division Division Control Division Division Division Division Division the Elderly Division Evaluation Management

Intractable/Rare Compliance Foreign Maternal and Planning Division of the Division for Health Overseas Human International Dental Health Home Work Disease Control and Narcotics Wage Division Workers’ Affairs Child Health Division of War Health for the Care and Long-term Private Pension Resource Affairs Division Division Division Division Division Division Division Victims’ Relief Elderly Care Integration Division Development

Blood and Workers’ Employment Medical Health Science Nursing Workers’ Life Relief and Actuarial Affairs Blood Products Compensation Development Policy Economics Division Division Division Record Division Division Division Administration Division Planning Division Division

Policy Planning Division Labor Insurance Employment Planning Division of Actuarial Economic Pension Service for Environmental Contribution Levy Measures for the Recovery of the Research Affairs Division Planning Division Health and Food Safety Division Elderly Division Remains of War Dead Division

Employment Measures Research and Food Safety Compensation Pension Service for the Persons with Development Standards and Division Management Division Evaluation Division Disabilities Division Department of Division Health and Welfare for Persons with Food Inspection Compensation Regional Disabilities and Safety Operation Employment Division Division Measures Division Councils, etc. Affiliated Institutions Regional Bureaus External Bureaus

Labor Market Environmental Policy Planning Center Health Division Division Operation Office Industrial Safety and Health Affiliated Institutions Regional Bureaus External Bureaus Welfare Division Department Water Supply for Persons with Quarantine Stations, National Hansen's Disease Sanatoriums, Research Regional Division Disabilities Institutions (National Institute of Health Sciences, National Institute of Prefectural Central Labor Relations Bureaus of Public Health, National Institute of Population and Social Security Labor Health and Commission Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Social Welfare Bureaus Ministry of Health, Labour Mental Health Welfare Executive Office Policy Planning Facilities (National Homes for Juvenile Training and Education, National and Disability and Welfare Division Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities) Health Division Labor 31,822 persons Standard Secretariat Councils, etc. Inspection Safety Division Office Internal Bureaus Social Security Council, Health Sciences Council, Labor Policy Council, Medical and Departments Regional Bureaus Ethics Council, Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council, Central Minimum Wages Council, Labor Insurance Appeal Committee, Central Social 3,926 persons 22,379 persons Industrial Insurance Medical Council, Examination Committee of Social Insurance, Evaluation Public Committee for Incorporated Administrative Agencies, Examination Committee for Health Division Employment Certification of Sickness and Disability, Examination Committee for Relief Security Affiliated Institutions External Bureaus Assistances, Examination Committee for the now-defunct Eugenic Protection Law Offices Lump Sum Payment, Examination Committee for Certification of Indemnities for Families of Former Hansen’s Disease Patients, Cancer Control Council, Council for (Hello Work) persons persons 5,417 100 Chemical Promotion of Measures against Hepatitis, National Research and Development Hazards Control Corporations Council, Council for Promotion of Measures for Karoshi, etc. Division Prevention, Council for Promotion of Measures against Allergies, Council for Promotion of Measures against Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Diseases, Council for Child Health and Development, Committee of Persons Involved in Measures for Health Problems from Alcohol As of April 1, 2020

35 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 36 Metropolitan Ministry of Land, Police Ministry of For people, for life, for the future Infrastructure, Department Justice Transport and Tourism Ministry of Public Internal Affairs Prosecutors The catchphrase above represents the philosophy underlying duties of the Ministry of Health, and Office Communications Sakurada Street Joint Court Labour and Welfare (MHLW): officials unite to expand a wide variety of health, labor and welfare Building

services while serving all citizens. Kasumigaseki (Marunouchi Line) Ministry of Bar Foreign Associations Iwaida Street The MHLW cares about all people living in Japan, working to protect their livelihoods now and in Affairs Building ● the future. B3b ● Ministry of KasumigasekiAgriculture, (Hibiya Line) B3a Forestry and Fisheries East Entrance Hibiya Park Kasumigaseki (Chiyoda Line) Ministry Ministry of Health, of ● Labour and Welfare Ministry of C1 Finance (Chuo Godo Chosha 5 go-kan) Japan Economy, Trade and Small and Industry Medium Japan Post Enterprise Holdings Building Agency

Ministry Of Health, Labour And Welfare

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Chuo Godo Chosha 5 go-kan, 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8916 Tel:03-5253-1111 (Main switchboard) https://www.mhlw.go.jp/

37 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Service Guide 2020 38