働(はたら)き方(かた)改革(かいかく)

A political and social keyword in contemporary Japan, composed of 働(はたら)き方(かた) (way of working) + 改革(かいかく) (reform). Originally a signature policy of the Abe government, formalized in the 2018 働(はたら)き方(かた)改革(かいかく)関連(かんれん)法(ほう) (Work Style Reform Related Laws), which took effect in 2019. The term has since broadened to refer to any effort to reshape how people work.

Key goals

• 長時間(ちょうじかん)労働(ろうどう)の是正(ぜせい): correcting long working hours
• 有給(ゆうきゅう)休暇(きゅうか)の取得(しゅとく)促進(そくしん): encouraging use of paid leave
• 同一(どういつ)労働(ろうどう)同一(どういつ)賃金(ちんぎん): equal pay for equal work
• 多様(たよう)な働(はたら)き方(かた)の推進(すいしん): promoting diverse ways of working (including telework and flextime)

Common collocations

• 働(はたら)き方(かた)改革(かいかく)を進(すす)める: to promote work-style reform
• 働(はたら)き方(かた)改革(かいかく)を推進(すいしん)する: to push forward work-style reform
• 働(はたら)き方(かた)改革(かいかく)関連(かんれん)法(ほう): Work Style Reform Related Laws
• 働(はたら)き方(かた)改革(かいかく)の一環(いっかん)として: as part of work-style reform

Related words

• ワークライフバランス: work-life balance
• 長時間(ちょうじかん)労働(ろうどう): long working hours
• 有給(ゆうきゅう)休暇(きゅうか): paid leave
• テレワーク: telework, remote work

Cultural note

The term reflects a broad societal reckoning with Japan's notoriously long working hours and overwork-related deaths (過労死(かろうし)). It is frequently invoked in news, corporate announcements, and HR materials.