February 5, 2025
Japan Fair Trade Commission
FY 2024 Survey on Transactions Conducted with Freelancers
Today, I would like to talk about the FY 2024 Survey on Transactions Conducted with Freelancers.
The “Grand Design and Action Plan for a New Form of Capitalism 2024 Revised Version,” approved by the Cabinet in June last year, states that a focused survey will be conducted within FY 2024 on industries with many problematic cases to ensure fair transactions with freelancers.
Based on this, the JFTC, the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare launched the FY 2024 Survey on Transactions Conducted with Freelancers today.
This survey aims to assess whether ordering parties comply with the Freelance Act in their transactions with freelancers. Today, we have sent questionnaires to 30,000 ordering parties, with responses due by Wednesday, March 5.
The selection of these 30,000 ordering parties is primarily focused on industries with many problematic cases, as stated in the Cabinet decision mentioned earlier. This determination also considers the findings of the pre-enforcement market study on transactions with freelancers, which was published in October last year. Specifically, the survey targets nine industries classified under the Japan Standard Industrial Classification: Construction; Information and Communications; Transport and Postal Services; Wholesale and Retail Trade; Scientific Research, Professional and Technical Services; Living-Related and Personal Services and Amusement Services; Education, Learning Support; Medical, Health Care and Welfare; and Services, N. E. C. (Note)
(Note) “N.E.C.” represents not elsewhere classified.
This survey is not a so-called market study but is conducted to gather information on potential violations of the Freelance Act. Based on the information obtained, the JFTC and other relevant authorities will conduct further investigations and take prompt and appropriate action in cases of violations.
In addition to the JFTC’s information collection in this manner, freelancers who have experienced violations of the Freelance Act may request an investigation from the relevant ministries and agencies responsible for enforcing the Act, including the JFTC.
Requests can be submitted online as well as in writing. Confidentiality will be strictly maintained. Freelancers who have experienced possible violations of the Freelance Act are strongly encouraged to report such cases to the relevant authorities.
For more details, please visit the JFTC’s website. Additionally, a video explaining the reporting process has been released today on the JFTC’s official social media accounts to raise awareness. We encourage you to also check the JFTC’s official X and Facebook pages.
The Freelance Act came into effect on November 1 last year, and nearly three months have passed since its enforcement. We will continue our efforts to ensure fair transactions for freelancers by combining public awareness activities to prevent violations with strict enforcement actions against any breaches of the act.
（Tentative translation）
