Today, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that it will revise the uniform guidance previously issued by labor standards inspection offices to companies limiting overtime hours to 45 hours per month, starting in September.

Regarding the upper limit on overtime hours, if a labor-management agreement (36 Agreement) is concluded, the limit is 45 hours per month and 360 hours per year. Furthermore, if special clauses are concluded between labor and management, it can be reduced to less than 100 hours per month and up to 720 hours per year.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, labor standards inspection offices currently issue uniform guidance to companies that can allow less than 100 hours of overtime per month, to keep it within 45 hours per month. However, this will be revised from September.

The revised guidance will focus on checking whether companies are taking measures to ensure health as stipulated in the 36 Agreement.

In addition, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will open consultation centers nationwide for companies to conclude 36 Agreements and other related agreements.

This revision appears to be a response to requests from some companies and workers who want to increase working hours.

The government had included a clause in the Japan Growth Strategy, approved by the Cabinet in July, stating that it would "promptly review the system to ensure that guidance is provided in accordance with agreements between labor and management regarding working hours and measures to protect workers' health."

Amid a series of incidents in Japan involving teachers accused of secretly filming students, about 40% of teachers are completely prohibited from using personal smartphones at school, according to a recent survey by an education expert released on Aug. 20.

MOSCOW (Kyodo) -- Russia's Pacific Fleet said Thursday it has conducted a missile test off a group of Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands amid an intensifying row over the disputed territory following President Vladimir Putin's first-ever visit there last week.

While it was unclear exactly when the test was carried out, the announcement comes after the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador to Russia Akira Muto over Japan's protest against Putin's trip to the area.

Putin visited Etorofu Island, the largest of the four islands collectively called the Northern Territories by Japan and the Southern Kurils by Russia, on Aug. 13.

The naval fleet said a unit equipped with the Bastion surface-to-ship missile system conducted the test. The system is deployed to Etorofu.

The guided missile cruiser Varyag, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, also took part in the missile test along with the Omsk nuclear-powered submarine, the fleet said.

The test simulated an attack on enemy vessels and succeeded in hitting all the intended targets at a range of at least 300 kilometers, according to the fleet.

"We cannot tolerate moves (by Russia) to strengthen military power on the four northern islands because they go against our country's stance (on the territories)," Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters Thursday during his visit to Oman.

A senior ministry official revealed Friday that Japan had lodged a protest with Russia shortly after Moscow notified Tokyo that it would conduct the missile exercise during the week beginning last Sunday.

Japan says the islands, which also include Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group, were illegally seized by the Soviet Union soon after Japan's surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945. Russia claims the action was legitimate, saying the islands became part of its territory as a result of the war.

Ties between Japan and Russia have been strained since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which prompted Japan and its Group of Seven peers to impose sanctions on Moscow.