April 3, 2024
Japan Fair Trade Commission
(Reappointment of Commissioner Sensui & Establishment of the Office of Ensuring Fair Transactions Involving Freelance Contractors)
Today, I would like to explain the following issues: reappointment of our commissioner and establishment of the Office of Ensuring Fair Transactions Involving Freelance Contractors.
Reappointment of Commissioner Sensui
Mr. Fumio Sensui, one of the JFTC commissioners, was officially reappointed after the matter was agreed by the Lower House and the Upper House, in February 20 and 21 accordingly. In April 2023, he was appointed as our commissioner first time as he took over the remainder period of his predecessor and March 31 this year was the end of his first term.
Commissioner Sensui is a scholar of competition law, especially the Antimonopoly Act (AMA), and he has been conducting research on the AMA regulations and competition policy. Since he became a commissioner in last April, he has been enhancing the implementation of the competition policy including the strict and effective operation of the AMA. I am sure that he is continuously contributing to the further promotion of the competition policy.
Establishment of the Office of Ensuring Fair Transactions Involving Freelance Contractors
The Act on Improvement of Transactions between Freelancers and Undertakings is for promoting the proper transaction and work environment of freelancers. It was enacted in April, 2023 and promulgated in May of the same year.
The Freelance Act is very important to regulate business operators who entrust business to freelancers. The Act enforces new regulations such as clarification of trade terms, payment obligation on time, prohibition of reduced payment or bargaining. For the operation of the Act, we establish the Office of Ensuring Fair Transactions Involving Freelance Contractors.
The Office operates the Act in an integrated way: not only for public relations, consulting for both freelancers and ordering enterprises, but also investigations and legal measures to the operators who might violate the Act.
The Freelance Act will be in effect around this Autumn. We are developing ordinances, rules and guidelines related to the Act. At the same time, we are also undertaking public relations as one of the most important issues. As I said in the press conference in February, we launched the "Freelance Act NAVI," a series of videos explaining the Act by topic, and released YouTube shorts for ordering enterprises and freelancers. We expect that media will take up the Act and support its public awareness activities.
We continue to prepare for the implementation of the Act.
（Tentative translation）
Today, I would like to explain the following issues: reappointment of our commissioner and establishment of the Office of Ensuring Fair Transactions Involving Freelance Contractors.
Reappointment of Commissioner Sensui
Mr. Fumio Sensui, one of the JFTC commissioners, was officially reappointed after the matter was agreed by the Lower House and the Upper House, in February 20 and 21 accordingly. In April 2023, he was appointed as our commissioner first time as he took over the remainder period of his predecessor and March 31 this year was the end of his first term.
Commissioner Sensui is a scholar of competition law, especially the Antimonopoly Act (AMA), and he has been conducting research on the AMA regulations and competition policy. Since he became a commissioner in last April, he has been enhancing the implementation of the competition policy including the strict and effective operation of the AMA. I am sure that he is continuously contributing to the further promotion of the competition policy.
Establishment of the Office of Ensuring Fair Transactions Involving Freelance Contractors
The Act on Improvement of Transactions between Freelancers and Undertakings is for promoting the proper transaction and work environment of freelancers. It was enacted in April, 2023 and promulgated in May of the same year.
The Freelance Act is very important to regulate business operators who entrust business to freelancers. The Act enforces new regulations such as clarification of trade terms, payment obligation on time, prohibition of reduced payment or bargaining. For the operation of the Act, we establish the Office of Ensuring Fair Transactions Involving Freelance Contractors.
The Office operates the Act in an integrated way: not only for public relations, consulting for both freelancers and ordering enterprises, but also investigations and legal measures to the operators who might violate the Act.
The Freelance Act will be in effect around this Autumn. We are developing ordinances, rules and guidelines related to the Act. At the same time, we are also undertaking public relations as one of the most important issues. As I said in the press conference in February, we launched the "Freelance Act NAVI," a series of videos explaining the Act by topic, and released YouTube shorts for ordering enterprises and freelancers. We expect that media will take up the Act and support its public awareness activities.
We continue to prepare for the implementation of the Act.
（Tentative translation）
