June 25, 2025
Japan Fair Trade Commission
Today, I would like to explain the following matters: (1) First Campaign to Strengthen Publicity of the Freelance Act in FY2025, (2) the 54th CPRC Open Seminar and (3) Consultation Cases on the Antimonopoly Act for FY2024.
First Campaign to Strengthen Publicity of the Freelance Act in FY2025
The Freelance Act came into force on November 1 last year, and it will soon be eight months since its enforcement. Following its promulgation in May 2023, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) has actively worked to promote awareness of the Act through intensive and large-scale publicity efforts across various media, aiming to ensure its smooth implementation. After the Act came into force, the JFTC has made efforts to identify potential violations and has responded swiftly and appropriately in cases where violations were confirmed. On the 17th of last week, the JFTC issued its first recommendation under the Act.
The JFTC considers that raising public awareness of the Act remains extremely important even after its enforcement. Accordingly, we have designated the period from June 30 to August 31 as the first campaign to strengthen publicity of the Act in FY2025, during which we will actively promote the Act. This campaign aims to increase awareness and understanding of the Act, thereby preventing violations by ordering parties and encouraging freelancers who have been subject to such violations to come forward. As in the previous year, the campaign will feature various publicity initiatives in collaboration with BUSON, an illustrator and manga blogger, and his original character “Shikibu-chan.”
First, the JFTC will launch theJFY2025 edition of special webpage for the Act on its official website. This site will contain a variety of resources such as an explanatory video featuring “Shikibu-chan” that can also be used for in-house training, a comprehension test on the Act, and content designed to help users check for possible violations at each stage of a transaction. We encourage everyone to visit and make use of these materials. In addition, we will run advertisements on the web as well as on in-train screens in Tokyo Metro and JR East trains. Please look forward to these outreach efforts.
Furthermore, we will hold six online information sessions and one in-person session in Tokyo to explain the Act. These sessions will cover key aspects of fair business practices under the Act, including the obligation to clearly state transaction terms. The sessions will also highlight differences between the Freelance Act and the Subcontract Act, as well as provide examples of recommendations and guidance issued under the Act. We encourage all interested parties to attend.
We will continue to provide clear and accessible information to both freelancers and ordering parties. We are committed to actively promoting and publicizing this Act.
The 54th CPRC Open Seminar
Next, I would like to introduce the 54th CPRC Open Seminar, which is scheduled to be held by the Competition Policy Research Center (CPRC) in Tokyo on Friday, July 25 of this year.
This seminar will also focus on the improvement of fairness in transactions involving freelancers, under the theme “The Current Status and Future Outlook for Fair Transactions with Freelancers.” As mentioned earlier, the Freelance Act (the Act) went into effect in November last year, and since then, the JFTC has built up a track record in law enforcement, including providing guidance and, most recently, issuing its first recommendation, which was announced last week.
This symposium will focus on the improvement of fairness in transactions between freelancers and ordering parties, as stipulated in Chapter 2 of the Act. In addition to a presentation by JFTC staff on the JFTC’s efforts since the enforcement of the Act, the program will feature lectures by legal scholars and attorneys on topics such as assessments of the Act and its guidelines, and practical considerations for both freelancers and ordering parties. A panel discussion is also planned.
This seminar is co-hosted by Nikkei Inc. and the Fair Trade Institute, with support from the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). Registration opens today (25 June). Details regarding the venue, speakers, and presentation topics are available on the seminar webpage (in Japanese only). In addition to attending in-person, participants may also join the seminar online. We encourage you to take part.
Consultation Cases on the Antimonopoly Act for FY2024
Lastly, I would like to briefly introduce the “Consultation Cases on the Antimonopoly Act” for FY2024, which was released today, June 25.
To prevent violations of the Antimonopoly Act and to support appropriate business activities by enterprises and trade associations, the JFTC provides preliminary consultation on whether planned conduct may raise concerns under the Antimonopoly Act when such entities intend to implement new initiatives. Among the consultations received, the JFTC selects key cases that are considered to be informative for parties in addition to the original consultees, compiles them into a collection of consultation cases, and publishes the report annually. The FY2024 report, released today, contains 10 cases.
The specific cases included in the FY2024 report are as follows:
1. As a consultation case concerning initiatives by enterprises toward the realization of a society that balances environmental sustainability and economic growth—a so-called “green society”—the JFTC responded that there would be no problem under the Antimonopoly Act with several manufacturers conducting joint research and other activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by downsizing and reducing the weight of certain packaging components. This is the Case 5.
2. As a consultation case concerning the activities of a trade association addressing how to maintain essential services in depopulated areas facing challenges such as labor shortages, the JFTC responded that there would be no problem under the Antimonopoly Act with the trade association coordinating closing days among its member-operated gas stations in specific areas where gas stations are scarce. This is the Case 6.
3. As a consultation case concerning the distribution of consumer products, the JFTC responded that there would be no problem under the Antimonopoly Act with a home appliance manufacturer indicating the resale price of its products to its business partners—on the condition that the manufacturer bears the risks and costs incurred up to the point of sale to general consumers. This is the Case 1.
On the JFTC website, a large number of consultation cases included in the reports published in past years—including the FY2024 report—are available for viewing. Each case can be searched by keyword, type of conduct, and other criteria. As each case outlines the JFTC’s perspective under the Antimonopoly Act, we hope that enterprises and trade associations will refer to these cases to deepen their understanding of the Antimonopoly Act and help prevent potential violations.
The department in charge of this matter is the Consultation and Guidance Office, Trade Practices Department.
(Tentative translation)
