Government guidelines published in late December encourage companies to provide temporary workers with benefits similar to those of permanent employees. Nevertheless, critics argue that the guidelines remain vague and are in any case not compulsory. The proportion of Japan's workforce on temporary employment has skyrocketed, reaching the 40 percent mark in 2015 as compared to 20 percent in the 1990s. The difference in benefits provided to temporary workers compared to permanent employees remains large, and many argue that the deregulation of the labour market that brought about the increase in temporary employment is the cause of increasing poverty in the country.

Japan is one of the few countries that has not yet ratified ILO Convention 111, prohibiting discrimination in terms of employment.