"About 60% of surveyed Japan freelancers harassed at work, labor laws insufficient", 12 September 2019

Around 60% of freelance workers in Japan have experienced power harassment, and close to 40% have been subject to sexual harassment, according to the results of a survey announced by three freelancer groups...on Sept. 10.

The survey also revealed that around half of harassment victims had not spoken to anyone about their treatment. Although measures against staff abuse in the workplace were just legislated in May, freelance workers are not covered by the protections the changes offer...

...The internet-based survey was carried out in July and August by the professional and parallel career freelance association, the Japan Actors Union and the Mass Media Culture & Information union freelance liaison committee.

It was aimed at actors, writers, designers and others in Japan whose jobs are often associated with freelance experiences. A total of 1,218 people, 29.7% men, 68.7% women and 1.6% not specified, responded. Of those, 61.6% said they had been victims of power harassment, and 36.6% said they had undergone sexual harassment.

Mental abuse, such as intimidation, defamation and abusive language, was the most common form of harassment cited...In second were unreasonable demands...followed by economically motivated abuse...

...In May, amendments to the Act on Comprehensive Promotion of Labor Policies, Stability of Employment of Workers and Enhancement of Occupational Life were passed which legislate against power harassment for the first time...

...But in national laws...only harassment occurring in the workplace is described. Freelance workers who are not employed by companies fall outside workplace protections described in the country's labor laws...