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The Consumer Affairs Agency's blue-ribbon Whistleblower Protection System Review Committee ("Committee") released its interim report on suggested revisions to the Whistleblower Protection Act ("Act") in September 2024, followed by its final report in December of the same year. In response to the Committee's recommendations, an amendment to the Whistleblower Protection Act ("2025 Amendment") was passed by the National Diet of Japan on 4 June 2025 and promulgated on 11 June 2025. The 2025 Amendment will come into effect on a date to be specified by Cabinet Order not exceeding one year and six months from the promulgation date. This client alert summarizes the 2025 Amendment and offers practical suggestions for future compliance with its provisions.
Summary of the 2025 Amendment
The 2025 Amendment contains specific provisions on key issues discussed in the Committee's interim and final reports. These include ensuring the establishment of whistleblowing systems and improving their effectiveness, addressing factors that discourage the submission of whistleblowing reports, reinforcing measures to prevent and remedy adverse treatment of reporters (i.e., retaliation) and expanding the Act's protections to include more individuals.
Establishing whistleblowing systems and improving their effectiveness
Removing factors that discourage the submission of whistleblowing reports
Preventing and remedying adverse treatment of whistleblowers
Expanding the scope of whistleblowers protected
Recommended responses
Companies are advised to take the following measures to ensure compliance with the 2025 Amendment.
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