Japan – Construction sector

By Daniel Morris | 3. June 2021

Chapter 2. Action Plan

2. Areas of the NAP

(2) Measures of the Government as an Actor regarding State Duty to Protect Human Rights

A. Public Procurement

(Existing framework/Measures taken）

…, the revision of the Act on Promoting Quality Assurance in Public Works (Act No. 18 of 2005) in 2019 set forth the obligations of the commissioning entity, such as setting appropriate periods for construction projects and ensuring that they are allocated evenly throughout the year as opposed to being concentrated in the same period. The revision also included a new requirement for a wide range of surveys regarding public works to be carried out. In addition to this, the Construction Business Act (Act No. 100 of 1949) and the Act for Promoting Proper Tendering and Contracting for Public Works (Act No. 127 of 2000) were revised in 2019 to promote work style reform in the construction industry, including redressing long working hours (e.g. appropriate construction period) and improvement of treatment of workers at construction sites.

 

(Future measures planned）

Thoroughly implement procurement rules relevant to business and human rights, including grievance procedures (initiatives based on Act on Priority Procurement Promotion for Persons with Disabilities, initiatives related to public procurement based on Article 24 of the Women’s Participation Act, and initiatives concerning exclusion of organized crime groups)

(…)

  • Continue to promote measures to exclude organized crime groups from public works, etc in accordance with the Initiative on Exclusion of Organized Crime Groups from Public Works, etc. (Agreement by the Working Team on Comprehensive Measures, Including the Control of Organized Crime Groups dated December 4, 2009). [All Ministries]

(…)

  • Continue to promote work style reform in the construction industry to deepen understanding of the purpose of the Act on Promoting Quality Assurance in Public Works, Construction Business Act, the Act for Promoting Proper Tendering and Contracting for Public Works, and the guidelines for these acts. [Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism]