Article 1.　The purpose of the present Law is to elevate the status of workers by promoting that they shall be on equal standing with their employer in their bargaining with the employer;to protect the exercise by workers of autonomous self-organization and association in labor unions so that they may carry out collective action including the designation or representatives of their own choosing to negotiate the terms and conditions of works;and to encourage the practice and procedures of collective bargaining resulting in trade agreements governing relations between employers and workers.

2　Criminal Code (Law No.45 of 1907)The provisions of Article 35 of the shall apply to collective bargaining and other acts of a trade union which are appropriate, being performed for the attainment of the purposes of the preceding paragraph, provided, however, that in no event shall acts of violence be construed as appropriate acts of trade unions.

Article 2.　Trade unions under the present Law shall be those organizations, or federations thereof, formed autonomously and substantially by the workers for the main purpose of maintaining and improving the conditions of work and for raising the economic status of the workers, provided that this rule shall not apply to those:

Article 3.　"Workers" under the present Law shall be those who live by wages, salaries or other remuneration assimilable thereto regardless of the kind of occupation.

Article 4.　Police and firemen employed in local public organizations shall not be able to organize or to join a trade union.

Article.5.　Unless the trade union has submitted evidence to the Labor Relations Commission and proved that it is in compliance with the provisions of Article 2 and paragraph 2 cif this Article, the trade union shall not he eligible to participate in the formal procedures provided in this Law and the Labor Relations Adjustment Law (Law No.25 of 1948) and to avail itself of the remedies provided therein;provided that nothing herein shall be construed so as to deny any individual worker the protection accorded by Article 7 item (1).

2　The constitution of the trade union shall include provisions provided for in each of the following items:

Article 6.　Representatives of a trade union or those to whom the powers thereto are delegated ed by the trade union shall have the power to negotiate with the employer or the employer's organization on behalf of the members of the trade union for conclusion of a trade agreement or on other matters.

Article 7.　The employer shall be disallowed to do the following practices:

Article 8.　No employer shall claim indemnity form a trade union or members of the same for damages received through a strike or other acts of dispute which are proper acts.

Article 9.　When a trade union intends to use for other purposes the funds specially set up for mutual aid and other welfare work, it shall obtain the resolution of the general meeting of the union.

Article 10.　The trade union shall be dissolved in the following cases:

Article 11.　A trade union which has received certification of a Labor Relations Commission that it is in compliance with the provisions of this Law shall acquire the status of a juridical person by registering at the place where its main office is located.

2　The matters necessary for registration other than are provided in this Law shall be fixed by a Cabinet Order.

3　As regards the matters which require registration for a trade union, they shall have no effect against any third person unless a registration has been effected.

Article 12.　The provisions of Articles 43, 44 (except the cases provided for in Article 8 of this Law), 50, 52-55 and 57 of the Civil Code (Law No.89 of 1896) and of Articles 35, 36 and 37-(2) of the Law on Procedure of Non-Contentious Cases (Law No.14 of 1898) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a trade union which is a juridical person.

2　The provisions of Articles 72-83 of the Civil Code and of Articles 136,137 and 138 of the Law on Pdocedures of Non-Contentious Cases shall apply mutais mutandis to a trade union which is a juridical person and which has dissolved according to the provision of Article 10 of this Law.

Article 13.　Trade unions which are juridical persons shall be exempted from income tax and taxes charged on juridical persons in accordance with the provisions of a Cabinet Order.

Article 14.　The trade agreement between a trade union and the employer or the employer's organization concerning conditions of work and other matters shall take effect when the agreement is put in writing and signed by both of the parties concerned.

Article 15.　Trade agreements shall include a provision fixing a definite termination date and shall in no event continue in effect for a period exceeding three years.

2　Upon the expiration of the termination date provided in it, no trade agreement shall continue in effect against the wish expressed by either one of the parties concerned;provided, however, that this provision shall not be construed to preclude provisions in a trade agreement which provides that the effect of the trade agreement is renewed unless either one of the parties concerned expresses opposition in advance.

Article 16.　Any provision of an individual labor contract contravening the standards concerning conditions of work and other treatment of workers provided in a trade agreement shall be void. In this case, the invalidated part of the individual contract shall be replaced by the provisions of the standards. The same rule shall apply to the part which is not laid down in the individual labor contract.

Article 17.　When three-fourths or more of the workers of similar kind normally employed in a factory or other working place come under application of one trade agreement, the remaining workers of similar kind employed in the same factory or other working place shall ipso facto be bound by the same agreement.

Article 18.　When a majority part of the workers of similar kind in a certain locality come under application of one trade agreement, the Labor Minister or the Prefectural Governor may at the request of either one or both of the parties concerned with the said trade agreement and according to the resolution of the Labor Relations Commission take the decision to extend the compulsory application of the trade agreement (including the part revised under provisions of paragraph 2) to all the remaining workers of the same kind employed in the same locality and their employers.

2　In case the Labor Relations Commissions deems, in making the resolution of the preceding paragraph, that the trade agreement in question contains inappropriate provisions, the commission may amend those provisions.

3　The resolution under paragraph 1 shall become effective by public notification.

Article 19.　Labor Relations Commissions shall be set up consisting of equal number of persons representing employers, workers and public interest.

2　The Labor Relations Commissions shall consist of the Central Labor Relations Commissions, the Mariner's Central Labor Relations Commission, Prefectural Labor Relations Commissions and Local Mariner's Labor Relations Commissions.

3　The members and the staffs of a Labor Relations Commission as provided in this Law shall be regarded as staffs engaged in official business under laws and ordinances.

4　Matters relating to Labor Relations Commission other than those laid down in this Law shall be fixed by a Cabinet Order.

5　The Central Labor Relations Commission shall be under the jurisdiction of the Labor Minister.

6　The Central Labor Relations Commission shall be composed of seven members representing employer (hereinafter referred to as "employer members" ), seven members representing labor (hereinafter referred to as "labor members" ) and seven members representing the public interest (hereinafter referred to as "public members" ).

7　The Labor Minister shall appoint the employer members in accordance with the recommendations of the employers'organizations, the labor members with the recommendations of trade unions and the public members with the agreement of the employer members and the labor members.

8　Incompetent and quasi-incompetent persons and one who has been sentenced to penal servitude or imprisonment and still under the execution of the sentence cannot be a member. When, a member shall become disqualified as a result of this provision, he shall automatically be retired.

9　As to appointment of the public members, three or more of them shall not belong to the same political party. When a public member shall have by his own actions disqualified himself as a result of this provision, he shall automatically be retired.

10　In case the Labor Minister recognizes that a member of the Central Labor Relations Commision cannot perform his duties by reason of mental and physical defects or that a member has violated his duties in performing his functions or is guilty of misconduct as a member, the Labor Minister may discharge the said member with the approval of the Central Labor Relations Commission.

11　The term of office of the members shall be one year, provided that substitute members filling a vacancy shall remain in office during the remaining term of the predecessor.

12　The members may be re-appointed.

13　The members shall continue to perform their duties until their successor has been appointed.

14　Members shall receive such salaries;allowances and other pays as are fixed separately by laws and compensation for expenses necessary to perform their duties as fixed by a Cabinet Order.

15　There shall be chairman in the Central Labor Relations Commission.

16　The chairman shall be elected by all members from among the public members.

17　The chairman shall preside over the businesses of the Central Labor Relations Commission.

18　When the chairman has been prevented from performing his duties, one who has been elected according to the provision of paragraph 16 shall perform the businesses of the chairman in lieu of the chairman, and when the chair has become vacant, a new chairman shall be elected in accordance with the provision of the same paragraph.

19　An Executive Office shall be established in the Central Labor Relations Commission to handle the administrative affairs of the Commission, and the Executive Office shall have a director and necessary staff appointed by the Labor Minister with approval of the chairman.

20　The provisions of this Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Prefectural Labor Relations Commissions;provided that the functions of the Labor Minister therein provided shall be performed by the Governor and the Commission shall be composed of five employer members, five labor members and five public members (in Tokyo Prefectural Labor Relations Commission, seven);and two or more of the public members shall not belong to the same political party (in Tokyo Prefectural Labor Relations Commission, three or more).

21　As regards the seamen covered by the Seamen's Law (Law No.100 of 1947), the functions of the Central Labor Relations Commission, the Prefectural Labor Relations Commission, and the Labor Minister or the Prefectural Governor as provided for in this Law shall be performed respectively by the Mariner's Central Labor Relations the Mariner's Local Labor Relations Commission and the Transportation Minister;and the provisions concerning the Central Labor Relations Commission and the Prefectural Labor Relations Commission shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Mariner's Central Labor Relations Commission and the Mariner's Local Labor Relations Commission;provided, however, that "Prefectures" shall read "Areas under the jurisdiction of the Maritime Transportation Bureau" .

Article 20.　In addition to provisions under Articles 5, 11, 18 and 27, the Labor Relations Commission shall have authority to perform conciliation, mediation and arbitration of labor disputes.

Article 21.　When the Labor Relations Commission deems it necessary for the public welfare, the meeting of a Labor Relations Commission may be made public.

2　The meetings of the Labor Relations Commission shall be called by the chairman.

3　The Labor Relations Commission shall be disallowed to open a meeting and to make a decision unless at least one, employer member, one labor member and one public member be present.

4　Decisions shall be made by a majority of the members present, and in case of a tie the decision shall be made by the chairman.

Article 22.　When the Labor Relations Commission deems it necessary for carrying out its work, the Labor Relations Commission may require the attendance or presentation of reports of the employer or the employers'organization or the trade union or others concerned or it may require the presentation of necessary books and documents or it may also have its members or staffs of the Labor Relations Commission (hereinafter simply called "staff" ) inspect factories and other working places concerned or inspect the conditions of business, books and papers and other objects.

2　In case the Labor Relations Commission shall have the members or staffs inspect or investigate under the preceding paragraph, the Labor Relations Commission shall make them carry a certificate certifying their position and show it to a person concerned.

Article 23.　The members and those who were members as well as the staffs or those who were on the staff of a Labor Relations Commission shall be disallowed to disclose any secret information obtained in performing their functions.

Article 24.　Only the public members of the Labor Relations Commission shall participate in the adjudication of cases arising under Articles 5, 7, 11 and 27 and Article 42 of the Labor Relations Adjustment Law;provided, however, that this shall not preclude labor members and employer members from participating in hearings held prior to a decision.

Article 25.　The Central Labor Relations Commission shall have authority to perform the functions prescribed under the provisions of Articles 18, 20, 26, and 27. The Central Labor Relations Commission may assume initial jurisdiction in all cases of conciliation, mediation, arbitration, and adjudication of cases which cover two or more prefectures or which present issues of national import.

2　The Central Labor Relations Commission may review the adjudications of the Prefectural Labor Relations Commission pursuant to the provisions of Articles 5, 7 and 27 with full authority to reverse, accept, or modify such adjudications, or it may reject appeal for review. Such review shall be initiated by the Central Labor Relations Commission or by appeal of either party from the adjudication of the Prefectural Labor Relations Commission.

Article 26.　The Central Labor Relations Commission shall have authority to formulate and promulgate rules of procedures for the Prefectural Labor Relations Commission, as well as rules of procedures for its own proceedings.

Article 27.　Whenever a complaint is field that an employer has violated the provision of Article 7 with a Labor Relations Commission, the Labor Relations Commission shall make an immediate investigation and if it is deemed necessary shall have a hearing of the issues on the merits of the complaint. Such investigation and hearing shall follow the Rules of Procedures prescribed by the Central Labor Relations Commission in accordance with the provision of the preceding Article, and at such hearing, sufficient opportunity to present evidence and cross-examine the withnesses shall be given to the employer concerned as well as the complainants.

2　At the conclusion of the hearing provided for in the preceding paragraph, the Labor Relations Commission shall make a finding of fact and issue its order in accordance therewith either granting in full or in part the relief sought by the complainants or dismissing the complaint. Such findings of facts and such order shall be in writing, and a copy thereof shall be served on the employer concerned and the complainants. Such order shall be in full force and effect from the date of service. Proceeding under the provisions of this paragraph shall be in accordance with the Rules of Procedures prescribed by the Central Labor Relations Commission as provided for in the preceding Article.

3　In case the employer received the order of the Prefectural Labor Relations Commission according to the provision of the preceding paragraph, he may within a period of 15 days file a request for review by the Central Labor Relations Commission. However, such request shall not have the effect of staying the order and it shall lose its force and effect only when the Central Labor Relations Commission reverses or modifies it as a result of review in accordance with the provision of Article 25.

4　In case the employer elects not to request a review by the Central Labor Relations Commission or in case the Central Labor Relations Commission issues the order, he may within a period of 30 days from the date of service of the order file his petition according to the provision of the Exceptional Law for Administrative Suit Cases (Law No.81 of 1948).

5　In the event the employer files his petition with the court according to the provision of the preceding paragraph, the court with which the petition is filed may, on appeal from the Labor Relations Commission concerned, issue Order by its decision requiring the employer concerned to comply in full or in a part with the order of the said Labor Relation Commission pending final judgement by the Court, or it may reverse or modify the decision on application from the parties concerned or by its own initiative.

6　In the event the employer requests a review by the Central Labor Relations Commission according to the provisions of paragraph 3, the period granted for recourse to the court under the provision of paragraph 4 shall commence to run from the day on which the Central Labor Relations Commission either refused to accept the appeal concerned or otherwise made final action in accordance with the provisions of Article 25.

7　In the event employer does not file his petition within the period under paragraph 4, the order of the Labor Relations Commission concerned shall be fixed. In this case, if the employer does not comply with the order of the Labor Relations Commission, the Labor Relations Commission shall inform of it to the District Court in the place where his domicile is located. The worker may also inform of it.

8　In case all or a part of the order of the Labor Relations Commission is sustained by the fixed judgement of the Court based on the petition under paragraph 4, the Central Labor Relations Commission cannot review the order of the Prefectural Labor Relations Commission.

9　The provisions of this Article shall not preclude a trade union or a worker from requesting a review by the Central Labor Relations Commission according to the provision of Article 25 or from filing petition with the Court.

10　The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the procedures of review by the Central Labor Relations Commission.

Article 28.　In case of violation of the order of the Labor Relations Commission when all or a part of the said order has been sustained by the fixed judgement of the court in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article, those who commit such violation shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand yen, or to both.

Article 29.　Those who contravene the provision of Article 23 shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding thirty thousand yen.

Article 30.　Those who contravene the provisions of Article 22 and fail to present reports or make false reports or fail to submit the books or papers or contravene the provisions of the same Article and fail to present themselves or refuse, obstruct or evade the inspection under the provision of the same Article shall be liable to a fine not exceeding thirty thousand yen.

Article 31.　When the deputy, co-habitant, employees, or others engaged in work of a juridical person or a person contravene the provisions of the first portion of the preceding Article, in connection with the business of a juridical person or of a person, the said juridical person or person shall not be immune from penalty on the ground of not having given order for such contravention.

2　The provisions of the first portion of the preceding Article shall apply to the directors, managers or other officers who execute the business of the juridical person in case the employer is a juridical person and to the legally fixed deputy in case the employer is a minor or a person adjudged incompetent;provided that this rule shall not apply to a minor that has the same capacity as an adult in the performance of business.

Article 32.　In case an employer has violated the order of the Court under the provision of Article 27 paragraphs, he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand yen (if the order concerned requires positive action, the total amount of money made by multiplying one hundred thousand yen by the number of days of non-compliance, may be assessed as a fine). The same rule shall apply to the case when an employer has violated the order of the Labor Relations Commission which has become fixed according to the provision of Article 27 paragraph 7.

Article 33.　The liquidator of a trade union which is a juridical person who has violated any of the provisions of the Civil Code as set out in Article 12 of this Law and violation of which are made punishable by Article 84 of the Civil Code shall be subject to the same fine of the same extent of amount as provided for in the said Article of the Civil Code.

2　The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the representative of a trade union which is a juridical person when such representative failed to register changes in the matters registered concerning the said juridical person as provided in Cabinet Order as set out in Article 11 paragraph 2 of this Law.