Construction industry vows to self-regulate overtime

September 23, 2017

TOKYO- The Japan Federation of Construction Contractors, made up of major building firms, announced on Friday an action plan for companies to self-regulate overtime hours and realize two days off a week.

Through the action plan, the federation hopes that moving in step with the Japanese government's work style reform and improving its labor environment, considered harsher than in other industries, will help resolve manpower shortages.

"It is essential that we work out our own salvation with a sense of speed as the people concerned," Takashi Yamauchi, chairman of the federation and also chairman of Taisei Corp., told a press conference on the same day.

"We would like to handle the matter swiftly, staying one or even two steps ahead of the government's policy," he added.

In addition to its 140 member companies, the federation plans to call on the entire industry, which has about 500,000 builders, to implement similar efforts. Jiji Press