In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Japanese government is
considering a new law to enable the government
to declare a state of emergency, cancel public events, and instruct
people to stay indoors. The government is already recommending that
large gatherings be cancelled, postponed, or scaled back until on
or about March 19, 2020, when the counsel of professionals will
provide its opinion. Given the rapid spread of the virus and its
implications, employers are confronting difficult questions
regarding how to handle safety and health rules, travel
restrictions, privacy of employees' health information,
compensation, and other employment issues.
The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are designed to
address some of the more common questions that employers with
operations in Japan currently face. Employers are also encouraged
to consult relevant guidance and FAQs put forth by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Japanese
Ministry of Health, Labor and
