People who work freelance are on the increase as forms of labor in Japan become more diverse. Since they are treated as individual business proprietors, however, freelancers are not fully covered by protective measures under labor laws. An experts panel of the Fair Trade Commission released a report this month calling for application of the Antimonopoly Law to protect the rights of freelance workers against unfair practices by businesses that use their services.
The FTC report, which will effectively serve as a guide for administrative action on such practices, is an important first step to protect the rights of freelance workers. But further steps should be explored to create an environment in which freelancers can give full play to their potential — a must as the nation faces the tightening manpower shortage amid the rapidly graying and shrinking population.
Freelance workers engage in a variety of jobs, from translators and IT engineers to writers, designers and animation artists. Athletes who belong to professional sports teams, entertainers on contracts with production offices, as well as some construction workers not in the employment of companies are also included. The number of freelance workers, including corporate employees who engage in side jobs, is estimated at more than 10 million. One forecast says that their number will increase by 3.5 million between 2015 and 2030.