February 7, 2024
Japan Fair Trade Commission
(Initiatives to enforce the Freelance Act)
Today, I would like to talk about the JFTC's efforts toward the entry into force of the "Act on Improvement of Transactions between Freelancers and Undertakings," so-called the "Freelance Act," which is scheduled to enter into force around the fall of this year.
This Act was promulgated in May of last year to promote the improvement of transactions and the working environment for freelancers.
The JFTC has been holding meetings of the expert panel to formulate ordinances, rules and guidelines related to the Act for its enforcement. Consequently, the report of the panel was released on January 19. Based on the report, we are currently in the process of formulating ordinances, rules, and guidelines.
In addition to formulating ordinances, the JFTC is also conducting publicity activities to publicize the Act. This Act widely applies to transactions with freelancers, who are estimated to number 4.62 million in Japan. It means that new regulations will be established for businesses who entrust their work to freelancers, so that it is extremely important to publicize the Act.
For example, the JFTC makes videos explaining the outline of the Act and posters for publicity. We also disseminate information via SNS, and dispatch lecturers to briefings organized by various organizations. However, in order to widely announce both those who entrust their work to freelancers and freelancers who mainly engage in individual activities, we believe it is also necessary to conduct publicity activities in unconventional ways.
Therefore, the JFTC is actively disseminating information on YouTube. Last year, we released videos to show points of caution to each of the parties to this Act; "freelancers," "small and medium enterprises" and "ordering enterprises." In the videos, the JFTC officials share the information in an unprecedent way, using easy words and a YouTuber-like atmosphere, so that a wide range of people can understand the contents of the Act.
On February 5, the JFTC launched the "Freelance Act NAVI," a series of videos explaining this Act by topic. As the first installment, we released a video explaining the concept of freelancing, and our first YouTube shorts. We hope that media will watch it and take up the Act and its publicity.
The JFTC will continue to actively publicize the Act by providing easy-to-understand information to both freelancers and ordering companies.
（Tentative translation）
Today, I would like to talk about the JFTC's efforts toward the entry into force of the "Act on Improvement of Transactions between Freelancers and Undertakings," so-called the "Freelance Act," which is scheduled to enter into force around the fall of this year.
This Act was promulgated in May of last year to promote the improvement of transactions and the working environment for freelancers.
The JFTC has been holding meetings of the expert panel to formulate ordinances, rules and guidelines related to the Act for its enforcement. Consequently, the report of the panel was released on January 19. Based on the report, we are currently in the process of formulating ordinances, rules, and guidelines.
In addition to formulating ordinances, the JFTC is also conducting publicity activities to publicize the Act. This Act widely applies to transactions with freelancers, who are estimated to number 4.62 million in Japan. It means that new regulations will be established for businesses who entrust their work to freelancers, so that it is extremely important to publicize the Act.
For example, the JFTC makes videos explaining the outline of the Act and posters for publicity. We also disseminate information via SNS, and dispatch lecturers to briefings organized by various organizations. However, in order to widely announce both those who entrust their work to freelancers and freelancers who mainly engage in individual activities, we believe it is also necessary to conduct publicity activities in unconventional ways.
Therefore, the JFTC is actively disseminating information on YouTube. Last year, we released videos to show points of caution to each of the parties to this Act; "freelancers," "small and medium enterprises" and "ordering enterprises." In the videos, the JFTC officials share the information in an unprecedent way, using easy words and a YouTuber-like atmosphere, so that a wide range of people can understand the contents of the Act.
On February 5, the JFTC launched the "Freelance Act NAVI," a series of videos explaining this Act by topic. As the first installment, we released a video explaining the concept of freelancing, and our first YouTube shorts. We hope that media will watch it and take up the Act and its publicity.
The JFTC will continue to actively publicize the Act by providing easy-to-understand information to both freelancers and ordering companies.
（Tentative translation）
