1.
non-renewal of a fixed-term employment contract; termination by not renewing
When an employer decides not to renew a temporary or fixed-term worker's contract at its expiration, effectively ending their employment. A significant labor issue in Japan, especially for non-regular workers.
契約社員が雇い止めにあった。
The contract employee had their contract not renewed.
不況で雇い止めが増えている。
Non-renewals of contracts are increasing due to the recession.
長年働いてきた派遣社員が突然雇い止めを通告され、裁判を起こした。
A temp worker who had worked for many years was suddenly notified of non-renewal and filed a lawsuit.
USAGE:
A labor law term that became widely known during economic downturns, particularly the 2008 financial crisis. Unlike 解雇 (dismissal/firing), 雇い止め refers specifically to letting a contract expire without renewal — technically the employer is not "firing" the worker but simply not extending the contract.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 雇い止めにあう (to have one's contract not renewed)
- 雇い止めを通告する (to notify of non-renewal)
- 不当な雇い止め (unfair/wrongful non-renewal)
- 雇い止め規制 (regulations on non-renewal)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 解雇: Dismissal, firing — directly terminating employment, which has stronger legal protections.
- 派遣切り: Cutting temp workers — a colloquial term for the mass non-renewal of dispatch workers.
- リストラ: Restructuring (layoffs) — broader corporate downsizing that may include both firings and non-renewals.